PHILADELPHIA, PA – Sixth-seeded Notre Dame managed to survive a rough offensive first half to hang with seventh-seeded Wisconsin late in the second. Then, down by one with sixteen seconds to play, Demetrius Jackson stripped the ball from Nigel Hayes and broke away for a go-ahead layup. Jackson wasn’t finished with burgling, though, as he then picked Bronson Koenig’s pocket with three seconds left and sealed a 61-56 victory for the Fighting Irish by draining a pair of free throws.
V.J. Beachem led the Irish with 19 points, while freshman Ethan Happ paced the Badgers with 14 points and 12 boards in the losing effort.
Tom McCarthy and John Thompson called the action on Westwood One Sports.