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Wisconsin avoids upset, beats Wofford

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Associated Press

Wisconsin's Jon Leuer (30) drives to the basket as Wofford's Terry Martin (50) defends during an NCAA first-round college basketball game in Jacksonville, Fla., Friday, March 19, 2010.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Not surprisingly, Wisconsin relied on its defense to beat pesky Wofford.

Jon Leuer scored 20 points, including a jumper and two free throws in the final 17 seconds, and the fourth-seeded Badgers eked out a 53-49 win over the 13th-seeded Terriers in the first round of the NCAA tournament Friday.

Trevon Hughes added 19 points for Wisconsin, including 12 of the team's first 21.

The Badgers (24-8) slowed it down early, playing their typical plodding style, then turned things up when the Terriers (26-9) opened the second half with a flurry of points.

Jamar Diggs scored 11 of his 13 points in the first 5 minutes after the break, helping Wofford overcome an eight-point deficit. The Terriers, who made just seven of 25 shots in the first half, hit their first eight baskets to start the second and took a 38-37 lead.

But Wisconsin, one of the Big Ten's best defensive teams the last decade, stayed poised. The Badgers pulled out a victory in the final minute thanks to two steals.

Hughes picked Diggs' pocket near midcourt and turned it into a layup on the other end. The play of the game came a few minutes later when Leuer tipped the ball out of Cameron Rundles' hands and out of bounds. Officials conferred before deciding Rundles touched it last.

Instead of getting a shot to tie the game at 51 or go ahead, Wofford was forced to foul with 4.2 seconds left. Leuer hit both free throws to seal the victory.

Wofford also missed two free throws in the closing minutes, with Rundles coming up short on the front end of a one-and-one and Terry Martin clanking one with 1:17 remaining.

Leading scorer Noah Dahlman finished with 10 points and five rebounds for the Terriers, who shot 56.5 percent in the second half but couldn't get any good looks late.

Wisconsin advanced to the second round for the fourth consecutive year and will play 12th-seeded Cornell in the East Regional on Sunday.

The Badgers finished with seven steals, which helped them overcome 37 percent shooting, 1-of-9 shooting from 3-point range and just three assists.

Aside from Wofford's run to start the second half, the game was ugly everywhere else. Of course, both teams are accustomed to that after having played close, low-scoring games all season.