Donaldson helps No. 22 Michigan rally late again to beat No. 18 Wisconsin 59-53 for Big Ten title
AP
Mar 16, 2025
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Tre Donaldson seems to have this March Madness stuff down pat.
The Michigan Wolverines guard delivered his second clutch play in two days, this time making the go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:54 left to send No. 22 Michigan past No. 18 Wisconsin Badgers 59-53 for the Big Ten Tournament title Sunday.
Donaldson scored 11 points and had eight assists one day after catching an inbound pass on the run with 5.3 seconds left and driving the length of the floor for the winning layup in a semifinal victory over Maryland, rekindling images from past NCAA Tournaments.
Now, Donaldson and his teammates want to stay focused on the future and keep this momentum for three more weeks.
“I know who I am, I knew who my team is,” Donaldson said after also recording eight assists. “It was just the desire to win. I want to win. It’s just me bringing that energy; I feel that was a big thing. I brought the energy.”
And a penchant for making big-time plays.
The Wolverines (25-9) arrived in Indianapolis trying to snap a three-game losing streak that cost them the regular season title and winning the school’s first tourney title since winning it back-to-back in 2017 and 2018.
There was nothing easy about it for Michigan.
The Wolverines needed three wins in three days, starting against a Purdue team playing just about an hour's drive from campus. The Wolverines then needed Donaldson’s heroics to reach the title game. So, on a day both teams looked fatigued, they outlasted Wisconsin (26-9) playing its fourth game in four days.
Vladislav Goldin also scored 11 points Sunday and was named the tourney's Most Outstanding Player.
But nobody was better this weekend than Donaldson,
“I don't remember the details of what was said at halftime, but I knew we were going to have to dig deep and find a way,” first-year Michigan coach Dusty May said. “Granted, we got a break by not playing four games in four days and we were optimstic their legs might not fare as well as ours.”
Donaldson's fast pace made sure of it.
The result: Wisconsin shot just 22.1% from the field and only 17.9% of 3-pointers as the game slipped away.
Michigan closed it on an 11-2 run.
John Tonje, the Badgers top scorer, was 1 of 14 from the field with nine points. John Blackwell scored 18 for Wisconsin, which still hasn't won a tourney title since 2015.
“We had some wide open looks, one on the corner. Blackwell had one wide open up off the slot, up one,” Badgers coach Greg Gard said. “If you’re going to win a championship, you’ve got to make a play, and part of making a play is knocking down a shot in a tight ballgame.”
Michigan and Donaldson did, Wisconsin and Tonje didn’t.
Wisconsin: Two days after tying a tourney single-game record with 19 3-pointers, the Badgers were just 15 of 68 from the field.
Michigan: The Wolverines lost the rebounding battle overall, but won it late and that proved the difference as they overcame fatigue to grind out a victory.
Donaldson's 3 with 1:52 left finally gave Michigan the lead and fueled the decisive spurt.
Wisconsin was a dismal 7 of 39 (17.9%) from 3-point range.
The Badgers and Wolverines will see each other again Thursday in Denver when third-seeded Wisconsin faces 14th-seeded Montana. The fifth-seeded Wolverines take on 12-seed UC-San Diego.
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1st Half
WISC
Badgers
23
MICH
Wolverines
21
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
Steven Crowl vs. Vladislav Goldin (Danny Wolf gains possession)
19:46
Tre Donaldson misses two point jump shot
19:44
John Blackwell defensive rebound
19:32
Steven Crowl turnover (bad pass) (Rubin Jones steals)
19:21
+3
Nimari Burnett makes three point jump shot (Vladislav Goldin assists)
0-3
19:04
+3
Max Klesmit makes three point jump shot (Nolan Winter assists)
3-3
18:52
+2
Danny Wolf makes two point reverse layup (Tre Donaldson assists)
3-5
18:38
Nolan Winter turnover (traveling)
18:17
Danny Wolf turnover (bad pass)
17:48
John Blackwell misses two point floating jump shot
17:46
Danny Wolf defensive rebound
17:38
+2
Nimari Burnett makes two point layup (Tre Donaldson assists)
3-7
17:24
Steven Crowl misses three point jump shot
17:22
Rubin Jones defensive rebound
17:18
Danny Wolf misses three point jump shot
17:16
John Tonje defensive rebound
17:10
Max Klesmit misses three point jump shot
17:08
Steven Crowl offensive rebound
17:02
+3
Nolan Winter makes three point jump shot (John Tonje assists)
6-7
16:52
Vladislav Goldin turnover (bad pass)
16:28
Nolan Winter misses three point jump shot
16:26
Vladislav Goldin defensive rebound
16:20
Nimari Burnett misses three point jump shot
16:18
John Tonje defensive rebound
16:06
Max Klesmit misses three point jump shot
16:04
Kamari McGee offensive rebound
15:58
Nolan Winter misses three point jump shot
15:56
Nimari Burnett defensive rebound
15:42
Vladislav Goldin misses two point layup
15:40
Nolan Winter defensive rebound
15:29
Max Klesmit turnover (bad pass) (Tre Donaldson steals)
15:19
Rubin Jones misses three point jump shot
15:17
John Tonje defensive rebound
15:07
John Tonje misses two point driving layup
15:05
Danny Wolf defensive rebound
15:00
Danny Wolf turnover (traveling)
15:00
TV timeout
14:35
Will Tschetter shooting foul (Steven Crowl draws the foul)
14:35
Steven Crowl misses regular free throw 1 of 2
14:35
+1
Steven Crowl makes regular free throw 2 of 2
7-7
14:24
Danny Wolf turnover (lost ball) (Steven Crowl steals)
14:10
Kamari McGee misses three point jump shot
14:08
Steven Crowl offensive rebound
13:55
John Blackwell misses three point pullup jump shot
13:53
Wolverines defensive rebound
13:27
Will Tschetter misses three point jump shot
13:25
Kamari McGee defensive rebound
13:08
Kamari McGee misses three point jump shot
13:06
Will Tschetter defensive rebound
12:56
L.J. Cason misses three point jump shot
12:54
Carter Gilmore defensive rebound
12:44
Jack Janicki misses three point jump shot
12:42
L.J. Cason defensive rebound
12:33
Kamari McGee personal foul (L.J. Cason draws the foul)
12:21
+2
Vladislav Goldin makes two point turnaround hook shot (Roddy Gayle Jr. assists)
7-9
11:58
John Tonje misses three point jump shot
11:56
L.J. Cason defensive rebound
11:50
Xavier Amos blocks L.J. Cason's two point floating jump shot
11:48
Nimari Burnett offensive rebound
11:42
+3
Vladislav Goldin makes three point jump shot (Nimari Burnett assists)
7-12
11:22
+3
John Blackwell makes three point jump shot (Max Klesmit assists)
10-12
11:12
Vladislav Goldin misses three point jump shot
11:10
Will Tschetter offensive rebound
10:52
Roddy Gayle Jr. misses three point jump shot
10:50
Badgers defensive rebound
10:50
Vladislav Goldin personal foul (Nolan Winter draws the foul)
10:50
TV timeout
10:36
Nolan Winter misses three point jump shot
10:34
Roddy Gayle Jr. defensive rebound
10:07
Vladislav Goldin misses two point layup
10:05
Xavier Amos defensive rebound
9:55
Tre Donaldson blocks John Tonje's two point driving layup
9:53
Will Tschetter defensive rebound
9:38
Nolan Winter blocks Tre Donaldson's two point jump shot
9:36
Tre Donaldson offensive rebound
9:34
Vladislav Goldin misses two point layup
9:32
Nolan Winter defensive rebound
9:31
John Blackwell misses two point driving layup
9:30
Xavier Amos offensive rebound
9:29
Xavier Amos misses two point layup
9:28
Badgers offensive rebound
9:12
+3
Max Klesmit makes three point stepback jump shot
13-12
8:51
+2
Roddy Gayle Jr. makes two point floating jump shot (Danny Wolf assists)
13-14
8:30
+2
John Blackwell makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot
15-14
8:17
Will Tschetter misses three point jump shot
8:15
John Tonje defensive rebound
7:58
Steven Crowl misses two point turnaround hook shot
7:56
Will Tschetter defensive rebound
7:51
Danny Wolf misses three point jump shot
7:49
Badgers defensive rebound
7:49
TV timeout
7:20
Danny Wolf shooting foul (John Blackwell draws the foul)
7:20
+1
John Blackwell makes regular free throw 1 of 2
16-14
7:20
+1
John Blackwell makes regular free throw 2 of 2
17-14
7:02
Rubin Jones misses three point jump shot
7:00
John Blackwell defensive rebound
6:51
John Tonje misses three point stepback jump shot
6:49
Danny Wolf defensive rebound
6:38
Tre Donaldson misses three point jump shot
6:36
Wolverines offensive rebound
6:36
Steven Crowl personal foul (Danny Wolf draws the foul)
6:31
+2
Vladislav Goldin makes two point layup (Tre Donaldson assists)
17-16
6:13
John Blackwell misses three point stepback jump shot
6:11
Badgers offensive rebound
5:57
Max Klesmit misses three point jump shot
5:55
Badgers offensive rebound
5:54
Danny Wolf personal foul (Steven Crowl draws the foul)
5:39
+2
John Blackwell makes two point driving finger roll layup (Steven Crowl assists)
19-16
5:16
Will Tschetter misses two point reverse layup
5:14
Carter Gilmore defensive rebound
5:02
Carter Gilmore misses three point jump shot
5:00
Nimari Burnett defensive rebound
4:46
+3
Rubin Jones makes three point jump shot (Tre Donaldson assists)
19-19
4:30
Steven Crowl misses three point jump shot
4:28
Badgers offensive rebound
4:16
Kamari McGee misses three point jump shot
4:14
Will Tschetter defensive rebound
3:52
Roddy Gayle Jr. misses two point driving layup
3:50
Nolan Winter defensive rebound
3:30
Max Klesmit misses three point jump shot
3:28
Rubin Jones defensive rebound
3:22
+2
Rubin Jones makes two point driving layup
19-21
3:16
+2
Nolan Winter makes two point layup (Max Klesmit assists)
21-21
2:52
Roddy Gayle Jr. misses three point jump shot
2:50
Xavier Amos defensive rebound
2:36
Xavier Amos misses two point driving layup
2:34
John Blackwell offensive rebound
2:34
+2
John Blackwell makes two point layup
23-21
2:34
TV timeout
2:16
Will Tschetter misses three point jump shot
2:14
Xavier Amos defensive rebound
1:55
John Blackwell misses three point jump shot
1:53
Jack Janicki offensive rebound
1:42
Xavier Amos misses three point jump shot
1:40
Nolan Winter offensive rebound
1:35
John Blackwell misses two point driving layup
1:33
Vladislav Goldin defensive rebound
1:27
Tre Donaldson offensive foul (Jack Janicki draws the foul)
1:27
Tre Donaldson turnover (offensive foul)
1:08
Tre Donaldson personal foul (Steven Crowl draws the foul)
0:54
Max Klesmit misses two point pullup jump shot
0:52
Nimari Burnett defensive rebound
0:43
Rubin Jones misses three point pullup jump shot
0:41
Steven Crowl defensive rebound
0:19
John Blackwell turnover (traveling)
0:19
Wolverines 30 second timeout
0:01
Vladislav Goldin misses two point floating jump shot
0:00
Wolverines offensive rebound
0:00
End of period
2nd Half
WISC
Badgers
30
MICH
Wolverines
38
Time
Team
Play
Score
19:52
Rubin Jones misses three point jump shot
19:50
Wolverines offensive rebound
19:50
Steven Crowl personal foul (Vladislav Goldin draws the foul)
19:38
Rubin Jones misses two point layup
19:36
Steven Crowl defensive rebound
19:08
Max Klesmit misses two point layup
19:06
Nolan Winter offensive rebound
18:59
Nolan Winter misses two point tip layup
18:57
Rubin Jones defensive rebound
18:47
Vladislav Goldin misses two point jump shot
18:45
Steven Crowl defensive rebound
18:26
+2
Max Klesmit makes two point driving layup (Steven Crowl assists)
25-21
18:08
Rubin Jones misses three point jump shot
18:06
Nolan Winter defensive rebound
17:49
John Tonje misses two point jump shot
17:47
Steven Crowl offensive rebound
17:40
Max Klesmit misses three point jump shot
17:36
Badgers offensive rebound
17:36
Rubin Jones personal foul (John Blackwell draws the foul)
17:18
+2
John Blackwell makes two point driving reverse layup
27-21
16:59
Danny Wolf misses three point stepback jump shot
16:57
Max Klesmit defensive rebound
16:35
+2
Max Klesmit makes two point driving layup
29-21
16:27
+3
L.J. Cason makes three point pullup jump shot (Tre Donaldson assists)
29-24
16:19
John Blackwell offensive foul (Tre Donaldson draws the foul)
16:19
John Blackwell turnover (offensive foul)
16:07
Will Tschetter misses three point jump shot
16:05
Kamari McGee defensive rebound
15:52
+3
Carter Gilmore makes three point jump shot (John Tonje assists)
32-24
15:35
+3
L.J. Cason makes three point jump shot (Will Tschetter assists)
32-27
15:22
Tre Donaldson shooting foul (John Tonje draws the foul)
15:22
TV timeout
15:22
+1
John Tonje makes regular free throw 1 of 2
33-27
15:22
+1
John Tonje makes regular free throw 2 of 2
34-27
15:05
Kamari McGee personal foul (L.J. Cason draws the foul)
14:54
L.J. Cason misses two point layup
14:52
John Blackwell defensive rebound
14:27
John Blackwell misses three point jump shot
14:25
Danny Wolf defensive rebound
14:17
Danny Wolf misses two point layup
14:15
Kamari McGee defensive rebound
14:15
Danny Wolf personal foul (Kamari McGee draws the foul)
14:06
Will Tschetter shooting foul (John Tonje draws the foul)
14:06
+1
John Tonje makes regular free throw 1 of 2
35-27
14:06
+1
John Tonje makes regular free throw 2 of 2
36-27
13:51
Rubin Jones misses two point layup
13:49
John Tonje defensive rebound
13:42
John Tonje misses three point jump shot
13:40
Roddy Gayle Jr. defensive rebound
13:34
Carter Gilmore personal foul (Will Tschetter draws the foul)
13:27
Vladislav Goldin misses two point hook shot
13:25
Max Klesmit defensive rebound
13:11
Will Tschetter shooting foul (Kamari McGee draws the foul)
13:11
+1
Kamari McGee makes regular free throw 1 of 2
37-27
13:11
+1
Kamari McGee makes regular free throw 2 of 2
38-27
12:54
+3
Will Tschetter makes three point jump shot (L.J. Cason assists)
38-30
12:41
Max Klesmit turnover (bad pass) (Will Tschetter steals)
12:24
L.J. Cason misses three point pullup jump shot
12:22
Xavier Amos defensive rebound
12:14
John Tonje misses two point jump shot
12:12
L.J. Cason defensive rebound
11:56
+2
Vladislav Goldin makes two point jump shot
38-32
11:38
Rubin Jones personal foul (John Tonje draws the foul)
11:38
TV timeout
11:26
Kamari McGee misses two point floating jump shot
11:24
L.J. Cason defensive rebound
11:21
Carter Gilmore shooting foul (L.J. Cason draws the foul)
11:21
+1
L.J. Cason makes regular free throw 1 of 2
38-33
11:21
+1
L.J. Cason makes regular free throw 2 of 2
38-34
11:05
Nolan Winter misses three point jump shot
11:03
L.J. Cason defensive rebound
10:41
Rubin Jones misses three point jump shot
10:39
Kamari McGee defensive rebound
10:29
Carter Gilmore misses three point jump shot
10:27
Nolan Winter offensive rebound
10:10
Max Klesmit misses three point jump shot
10:08
Will Tschetter defensive rebound
9:46
Nolan Winter personal foul (Vladislav Goldin draws the foul)
9:41
Tre Donaldson misses three point jump shot
9:39
Badgers defensive rebound
9:25
Nimari Burnett shooting foul (John Blackwell draws the foul)
