Mon Nov 25 01:30:00 UTC 2024: ## Wisconsin Badgers Win Greenbrier Tip-Off Championship Behind Transfer Portal Star John Tonje
**White Sulphur Springs, WV** – The Wisconsin Badgers (7-0) captured the Greenbrier Tip-Off championship on Sunday, defeating the Pittsburgh Panthers (6-1) with a thrilling 81-75 victory. The Badgers’ success was largely due to the stellar performance of transfer guard John Tonje, who exploded for 33 points, 25 of which came in a dominant second-half showing.
Tonje, a standout transfer from Colorado State and Missouri, has quickly become a key player for the 19th-ranked Badgers. His performance builds on a previous 41-point outburst against then-No. 9 Arizona earlier this month. This victory marks the Badgers’ seventh straight game scoring 79 or more points, a new program record.
The game was delayed significantly due to a triple-overtime contest between LSU and Central Florida in the third-place game, pushing back the start time by over an hour. Adding to the unusual circumstances, a malfunctioning shot clock on Wisconsin’s end of the court necessitated a unique solution: the coaches agreed to play with only one working shot clock, with the PA announcer providing manual countdown notifications.
Despite trailing by as many as 14 points in the first half and initially struggling from three-point range (missing all 10 attempts in the first half), the Badgers rallied behind Tonje’s impressive scoring to overcome the Panthers. This win adds to the Badgers’ impressive early-season performance, surpassing any preseason expectations.
First Piper 