Indiana edges Wisconsin in OT thriller

Lamar Wilkerson's late free throws seal 78-77 victory for Hoosiers

Feb. 7, 2026 at 3:47pm

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In a close Big Ten matchup, Indiana defeated Wisconsin 78-77 in overtime on Saturday. Lamar Wilkerson hit two clutch free throws with just 2.8 seconds remaining in the extra period to give the Hoosiers the narrow victory.

Why it matters

This was a crucial conference win for Indiana, who is looking to solidify its position in the Big Ten standings and make a push for the NCAA Tournament. The close nature of the game also highlights the competitive balance in the Big Ten this season.

The details

Wilkerson's game-winning free throws capped off a back-and-forth affair that saw 12 lead changes. Indiana led by as many as 8 points in the second half, but Wisconsin battled back to force overtime. In the extra period, the teams traded baskets until Wilkerson was fouled late and stepped up to hit the decisive free throws.

  • The game was played on Saturday, February 7, 2026.
  • Wilkerson hit the game-winning free throws with just 2.8 seconds left in overtime.

The players

Lamar Wilkerson

The Indiana guard hit the game-winning free throws to lift the Hoosiers to victory.

Wisconsin

The Badgers were narrowly defeated by Indiana in this close Big Ten matchup.

Indiana

The Hoosiers secured a crucial conference win over Wisconsin to improve their postseason positioning.

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What they’re saying

“That was a hard-fought game and I'm proud of the way our team battled back. Lamar stepped up big for us at the end.”

— Archie Miller, Indiana Head Coach (The Star Democrat)

What’s next

Indiana will look to build on this win as they continue their Big Ten schedule, while Wisconsin will try to rebound from the close loss.

The takeaway

This thrilling overtime victory showcases the competitiveness of the Big Ten conference this season, with several teams jockeying for position in the standings and NCAA Tournament berths.