BTN.com staff, March 22, 2012
Top-seeded Syracuse held on for a 64-63 victory over fourth-seeded Wisconsin on Thursday night in the East Regional semifinals. The Badgers had two shots at the win after Kris Joseph, a 75 percent free throw shooter, missed the front end of a 1-and-1 with 18.9 seconds left and the Orange leading by a point. Jordan Taylor came down and missed a 3-pointer with 3 seconds left and Mike Bruesewitz's toss with the rebound was off, at the buzzer.
East Regional – Round 4: #1 Syracuse 64, #4 Wisconsin 63
PREVIEW | BOXSCORE | AP RECAP | SCOREBOARD | NCAA.COM BRACKET
FAST RECAP: Syracuse and Wisconsin were tightly matched on Thursday at TD Garden in Boston, but the Orange pulled out a 64-63 victory in the Sweet Sixteen. There were 10 lead changes in the game. Jordan Taylor was a bright spot for Wisconsin (26-10) in the loss with 17 points, four rebounds, seven assists, and 5-of-9 shooting from beyond the arc. C.J. Fair sparked Syracuse (34-2), as he scored 15 points, pulled down seven rebounds, and made 7-of-9 shots from the floor for the Orange in the game. Scoop Jardine was 5-of-8 from the floor and chipped in 14 points for Syracuse.
The Orange shot 55 percent from the field (27-of-49). Syracuse also got double-digit efforts from Brandon Triche, who scored 11 and Dion Waiters, who scored 13. Jared Berggren shot 6-of-7 from the field and scored 17 points for the Badgers. Wisconsin was on fire from beyond the arc during the game, shooting 52 percent (14-of-27). Ball movement led to 15 assists on its 21 baskets for the Badgers. Both teams grabbed 23 rebounds in the game. The Orange trailed 17-11 in the first, but a 22-6 run allowed them to take a 10-point lead with 2:29 left in the first half. Jardine capped the run off with a field goal that helped the Orange lead 33-27 at the half.
FAST HALFTIME RECAP: Control of the game is still up for grabs as Syracuse and Wisconsin have traded the lead eight times in the first half alone. Currently the Orange lead 33-27. The Badgers led 23-22 when Syracuse went on an 11-0 run to take a 10-point lead. Wisconsin has found a way to neutralize the Orange's leading scorer, Kris Joseph. Sitting with two points, the senior is far below his 13.7 per game average this year.
The Badgers fired often and fired with accuracy from distance, hitting 45 percent (5-of-11) of their three-point attempts. Wisconsin shared the ball, finishing with seven assists on 10 field goals in the first half. Syracuse's Dion Waiters had a big first half, with nine points. Jared Berggren is putting together a nice game so far for the Badgers. The junior has 10 points. .
Recaps powered by Narrative Science