For all the revelry in the rivalry game between the Gophers and Badgers on Tuesday, it came down to one of the most mundane facets of men’s college basketball: free-throw shooting.

No. 13 Wisconsin made their foul shots, while Minnesota didn’t in a 62-59 loss on Tuesday night at Williams Arena.

Minnesota (12-7, 3-5) has dropped yet another close game to Wisconsin, making it five straight by less than six or fewer points. Minnesota squandered another opportunity to earn its first Quad 1 win.

The Badgers (15-4, 7-1) were a 2.5-point favorite and made 8 of 10 (80%) from the stripe. Minnesota made only 5 of 13 (38%) from the line.

Braeden Carrington got a crucial offensive rebound with 34 seconds left and made one of two free throws to take a 58-57 lead. Dawson Garcia missed a free throw after a technical foul.

A.J. Storr, a Badgers transfer from St. John’s, made both of his free throws to take a 59-58 lead with 22 seconds remaining.

Tyler Walt made both his free throws with five seconds left.

Mike Mitchell was fouled with four seconds left, he made the first foul shot, missed the second, got the rebounded and couldn’t connect from 10 feet on the baseline.

Gophers starting point guard Elijah Hawkins returned from a one-game absence due to an ankle injury. He led Minnesota with 16 points and nine assists.

Minnesota made its opening six 3-pointers of the second half to take their first lead since early in the first half at 46-45.

Wisconsin responded with a 9-0 run to make it 54-46 and the U had its own 7-0 spirt to make it 54-53. It would remain close the rest of the way.

Pharrel Payne appeared to be laboring through his reoccurring back injury, but contributed nine points and seven rebounds.

The Gophers’ awful shooting in the first half put them down 10 points at the break. Minnesota shot 31 % from the field and 21 % from 3-point range.

In the first half, the U settled for too many 3-pointers and long twos, with its starting back court — Hawkins, Mike Mitchell Jr., and Cam Christie — combining to shoot 2 of 15 from the field in the first half.

Dawson Garcia sat for more than five minutes of the first half, despite not being in foul trouble. He had only two shots and two points in the first half.

Wisconsin opened up a 15-point lead, 32-17, with five minutes left in the first half.

Badgers big man Nolan Winter of Lakeville appeared to blow kisses with both hands after making a 3-pointer in the first half. The son of former Gophers center Trevor Winter was playing in his first game against Minnesota.