ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) The Wisconsin Badgers are riding the nation's stingiest defense - and admittedly a bit of luck - back to the round of 16.
The Badgers held the Southeastern Conference's two leading scorers in check Saturday night and Ryan Evans grabbed a crucial rebound with 2.1 seconds left to help Wisconsin fend off Vanderbilt 60-57 in the NCAA tournament.
The Badgers held John Jenkins (20.1) and Jeffery Taylor (16.3) to 13 and 9 points, respectively in advancing to face top-seeded Syracuse in the East Regional in Boston.
Jenkins got just one good look at the basket all night, and it came on a wide-open 3-pointer in the final seconds. With the Commodores trailing 59-57, Jenkins created some space between him and Jarred Berggren, but like so many of his other shots on this night, it was long.
``That was as wide open a shot as we gave up the whole game,'' Badgers coach Bo Ryan said. ``It just didn't happen to go down.''
Evans grabbed the rebound among a mash pit of bodies pushing and shoving underneath the basket, corralling the ball and drawing the foul with 2.1 seconds left.
``It was a pretty good look,'' Jenkins said. ``I felt like I got a good chance of having it going in, just like a lot of looks I had today. It just didn't drop for me.''
Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings desperately wanted a whistle on the Badgers but didn't get it.
If the Badgers didn't get away with a foul, they know they got away with a rare defensive breakdown.
``He's one of the best scorers in the country, one of the best shooters in the country,'' Badgers point guard Jordan Taylor said. ``So when you see a guy get a look like that, your heart kind of drops. I know my mom already bought tickets to Boston, so I was hoping that it didn't go in.
``But Jared did a great job of recovering there and making it as difficult as possible. Ryan did a great job of checking out down low and securing the rebound. But it was definitely heart-stopping for a second there.''
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