Border Battle Dominance: Badgers Erase 18-Point Deficit to Stun Minnesota in Historic Comeback
John Blackwell and Nick Boyd combine for 44 points as Wisconsin ties the school record for largest second-half comeback in a 67-63 thriller.
For the first 20 minutes on Wednesday night, it looked like the Border Battle was going to be a blowout in the wrong direction. For the final 20, something clicked for the Wisconsin basketball team. Maybe it was rising to adversity. Maybe it was pride.
In a game that will be remembered for years to come in the rivalry, the Wisconsin Badgers (15-6, 7-3 Big Ten) overcame a disastrous first half to storm back and defeat the Minnesota Golden Gophers, 67-63.
The victory wasn’t just another notch in the rivalry column—it was historic. Overcoming an 18-point halftime deficit (35-17) tied the school record for the largest second-half comeback in program history. It also marked Wisconsin’s 11th straight victory over their neighbors to the west.
Here is how the Badgers pulled off the impossible.
From Nightmare to Nirvana
The first half was, frankly, unwatchable. The Badgers shot a frigid 17.9% from the field, managing just one two-point bucket in the entire opening stanza. The offense was stagnant, the energy was flat, and Minnesota—despite missing leading scorer Cade Tyson—punched Wisconsin in the mouth to take a 35-17 lead into the locker room.
Whatever Greg Gard said at halftime, it needs to be bottled and sold.
The Badgers exploded out of the break with a 21-7 run, bringing the Badgers to within three points with 10:12 remaining in the half. The furious comeback was fueled by defensive intensity that was nonexistent in the first half. They flipped the script completely, shooting 70% from the floor in the second half and forcing eight Minnesota turnovers to claw their way back.
The Closers: Blackwell and Boyd
While the defense set the table, the backcourt duo of John Blackwell and Nick Boyd ate the meal.
John Blackwell (23 Points): The sophomore guard was fearless when it mattered most. He scored the Badgers’ final seven points of the game, including a dagger 3-pointer with 19 seconds left to extend the lead to 65-61. He finished 11-of-14 from the charity stripe, proving once again he is the guy you want with the ball in clutch situations.
Nick Boyd (21 Points): The transfer guard was the spark that lit the fire. After a quiet first half, Boyd erupted for 19 points in the second frame, hitting four triples. His jumper with 6:22 remaining gave Wisconsin its first lead (51-50) since the opening minutes, blowing the roof off the Kohl Center.
A Historic Rivalry Dominance
This win extends Wisconsin’s dominance over Minnesota to 11 consecutive games, the longest streak in the history of the series between the Badgers and Gophers.
Winning ugly is still winning, and in the Big Ten, you take them however you can get them. The Badgers proved last night that no deficit is insurmountable when the shots start falling and the Kohl Center crowd gets involved.
What’s Next
The Badgers will look to carry this momentum into the weekend as they host Ohio State on Saturday. Tip-off is set for 1:00 PM CT on FOX.
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