Indianapolis, IN.: The Michigan Wolverines clinched the 2025 Big Ten men’s basketball tournament title tonight, March 16, after defeating the Wisconsin Badgers 59-53. 

Michigan’s victory tonight marks their third Big Ten tournament championship and their first since 2018. After signing with the Wolverines last March, head coach Dusty May has been on a mission to rebuild this program and turn it back into something truly special after leading FAU to its first Final Four appearance in 2023. May now has become the first coach in conference history to secure the tournament title in his inaugural season. 

Hail to the Victors 〽️ pic.twitter.com/s8CFcf7Uoo

— Michigan Men's Basketball (@umichbball) March 16, 2025

The Wolverines’ journey to the championship was impressive, with standout performances from key players. Point guard Tre Donaldson played a pivotal role throughout the tournament, leading the offense with crucial plays and demonstrating exceptional leadership. His contributions were instrumental in Michigan’s victories against Purdue and Maryland, including a game-winning layup against Maryland. 

Both teams showed their tiredness throughout the course of the game, likely due to the grueling schedule of playing multiple games over consecutive days; the game overall was also a lower-scoring game, especially from two teams who put up bigger numbers throughout their previous matchups. Despite this, Michigan managed to execute a decisive 11-2 run in the final minutes, overcoming a seven-point deficit to secure the win. 

One of the defining moments of the championship game was Michigan’s ability to close out tight contests. Trailing by seven points with under six minutes remaining, the Wolverines locked in defensively and executed an 11-2 scoring run to flip the game in their favor.

Michigan’s defensive approach played a crucial role in shutting down Wisconsin’s offense in the second half. The Wolverines applied relentless ball pressure, forcing the Badgers into difficult late-clock situations.

Wisconsin’s John Blackwell led all scorers with 18 points, while Max Klesmit added 12 points and three assists. However, their efforts were not enough to counter Michigan’s late run. 

This tournament victory adds to Michigan’s storied basketball legacy and secures their automatic bid to the 2025 NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament. The Wolverines will look to carry this momentum forward as they prepare for the challenges ahead in the national tournament.