INDIANAPOLIS (Michigan News Source) – For the first time since 2018, and under first-year head coach Dusty May, Michigan came from behind to win the Big Ten Championship Tournament, 59-53, over Wisconsin. Big Ten Tournament Most Outstanding Player Vladislav Goldin hit two key free throws with 46 seconds left to propel Michigan to the win, finishing with 11 points and five rebounds.

“First of all we want to thank the Michigan nation who brought the energy today,” said May after the game on the floor. “We were having trouble getting over the hump and your energy and enthusiasm gave us that jolt to the championship.”

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This was the fourth Big Ten Tournament Championship in six championship games, winning championships in 1998, 2017, 2018, and 2025. This gives them the third most titles by a program in the Big Ten (4) behind Ohio State (5) and Michigan State (6), and they became the third no. 3 seed team to win the championship.

Tre Donaldson, who had the game-winning layup against Maryland on Saturday, added 11 points, and Danny Wolf, who made the All-Tournament team, added eight points and eight rebounds.

Michigan overcame an 11-point deficit in the second half to tie the game at 45. They were down 38-37 and then had a late 7-0 run to tie the game at 45 with 5:50 left to play. Wolf grabbed the defensive rebound at 5:57 and put in the tying basket seven seconds later. Donaldson gave the Wolverines a two-point lead, 53-51, at 1:54, but two Wisconsin free throws tied the game at 53 with 1:34 to go. Michigan had two missed three-pointers, but Goldin grabbed a rebound and fouled with 46 seconds left, making both free throws.

Wisconsin missed a jumper with 33 seconds left. Goldin grabbed the defensive rebound but turned it over, giving the Badgers another chance to tie the game. Wisconsin missed a layup with 24 seconds to go, and Donaldson was fouled after getting the rebound. He converted both free throws as 14 seconds showed on the clock, and then Wolf hit two more free throws at the end of the game for the 59-53 victory.

With the win, Michigan received a no. 5 seed in the NCAA Tournament for the South Region and will play no. 12 seed UC San Diego in Ball Arena in Denver, Colo. They will play on Thursday, March 20, and if they advance will take on the winner of no. 4 seed Texas A&M or no. 13 seed Yale.