Wisconsin is looking to hold on to the top spot in the Big Ten when the 13th-ranked Badgers host Michigan State on Friday at Madison, Wis.
Wisconsin (15-4, 7-1 Big Ten) escaped with a 61-59 win at Minnesota on Tuesday to remain the only team with one conference loss. Michigan State (12-7, 4-4) has been idle since a 61-59 win at Maryland on Sunday.
Wisconsin won the first meeting between the teams 70-57 at Michigan State in early December.
Against Minnesota, the Badgers led by 15 in the first half and by eight with just over seven minutes left but trailed by one with 34 seconds remaining. Down the stretch, Wisconsin went 4 of 4 from the free-throw line and the Badgers’ Tyler Wahl blocked a shot inside in the closing seconds.
Wahl had a team-high 16 points, making 6 of 7 shots. AJ Storr, a transfer from St. John’s, had his first career double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds.
“I just didn’t think we had an edge to us defensively and they came out and made some plays to start the half,” Wisconsin coach Greg Gard said. “But eventually we got better there defensively.