MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Rhys Lloyd kicked a 35-yard field goal as time expired to give 18th-ranked Minnesota a 37-34 victory over Wisconsin in a Big Ten Conference contest.
Marion Barber III and freshman Laurence Maroney each ran for over 100 yards for the third straight game for Minnesota (9-2, 5-2), which blew an 18-point lead before posting its third straight win.
Barber rushed for 33 yards on the final drive before Lloyd kicked the game winner after Wisconsin called two timeouts.
"It got me more pumped up," Lloyd said of the timeouts. "As soon as I kicked it, I started running. I knew it was good."
The Golden Gophers have won nine games for the first time since 1905, when Henry Williams led them to a 10-1 record.
Barber carried 27 times for 134 yards, while Maroney gained two more yards on 12 fewer attempts.
"It was a big win for us," Barber said. "We have been working hard in practice and we have to keep preparing."
Quarterback Asad Abdul-Khaliq also gained 23 yards on four carries as Minnesota regained Paul Bunyan's Axe, defeating Wisconsin for just the second time in the last nine meetings. Abdul-Khaliq gave Minnesota a 17-3 advantage with a 13-yard run 4:08 into the second.
Abdul-Khaliq also completed 5-of-7 passes for 66 yards but did not play the second half after suffering a shoulder injury. Fellow senior Benji Kamrath filled in adequately, going 6-of-10 for 95 yards.
Jim Sorgi rallied Wisconsin from a 24-6 deficit, completing 23-of-34 passes for 303 yards and four touchdowns with an interception.
"He played very well," Wisconsin coach Barry Alvarez said of Sorgi, who recently underwent knee surgery. "I couldn't be more pleased. He took some hits and made strong throws and played well off surgery."
Wisconsin (6-4, 3-3) tied the score for a second time, 34-34, when Sorgi found Owen Daniels over the middle for a 26-yard touchdown with 7:15 left in the fourth quarter.
The Badgers held Minnesota on the ensuing possession and got the ball back on their own 42-yard line with 4 1/2 minutes to play. But Sorgi managed only a five-yard completion to Darrin Charles on 3rd-and-9.
The Golden Gophers began their final drive on their own 20, but Kamrath completed all three of his passes, including a 23-yard strike to Aaron Hosack to the Wisconsin 44 on 34rd-and-9. Barber followed with an 11-yard burst and one play later, gained 12 yards to set up the winning field goal.
The Badgers have lost three straight since ending Ohio State's 19-game winning streak.
"They came out with the ax and that's frustrating," Wisconsin running back Booker Stanley said.
The Golden Gophers amassed 218 rushing yards in the first half and took a 24-6 lead on a six-yard scamper by Thomas Tapeh. Wisconsin answered with a five-play, 65-yard drive to close within 11 when Sorgi found Daniels for a 27-yard TD 36 seconds before halftime.
Lee Evans, who had six receptions for 66 yards, caught a 17-yard pass from Sorgi to trim the margin to 24-20, 2:13 into the second quarter. Lloyd, a Dover, England native, kicked a 34-yard field goal 3 1/2 minutes later to give Minnesota a seven-point lead.
The Badgers tied it for the first time with 1:35 go in the third, when Sorgi hooked up with Darrin Charles for a 12-yard touchdown.
Minnesota regained the lead on an 11-yard run by Barber 3:47 into the fourth. Barber took a pitch, eluded the grasp of linebacker Kareem Timbers and sprinted up the left sideline for his 17th touchdown of the season.
Barber has nine 100-yard rushing games, which is tied for fifth on Minnesota's all-time list and three behind his father for fourth.
