Bronson Koenig
Bronson Koenig played the hero on Sunday night, hitting two of his six 3-pointers in the final seconds to send the Wisconsin Badgers to a 66-63 win over the Xavier Musketeers in St. Louis.
Koenig hit a three with 11.7 seconds left to tie the game at 63-all. After Zak Showalter drew a charge against Xavier freshman guard Edmund Sumner, the Badgers advanced the ball to mid-court and called a time out. Greg Gard drew up a play for Koenig and it came off just as planned. Koenig hit a fade away three in the corner to give the Badgers the 3-point win.
Koenig hit six-0f-12 from three-point range and finished with 20 points. Ethan Happ added 18.
Nigel Hayes struggled again, missing all five of his three-point shots and hitting just two-of-10 overall for six points. But Hayes still made his presence felt in other ways, holding Xavier’s leading scorer, Trevon Bluiett in check and pulling down eight rebounds.
The Badgers (22-12) reached the Sweet 16 for the third consecutive season and fifth time in the last six seasons.
UW advances to the East Regional Semifinals on Friday in Philadelphia against No. 6 Notre Dame (23-11). The Irish advanced by holding off Stephen F. Austin 76-75 on Sunday.
Xavier saw its season come to an end at 28-6.
AUDIO: Bronson Koenig on hitting the game winner :14
AUDIO: Greg Gard on Zak Showalter drawing a late charge, leading to GW basket :14
AUDIO: Greg Gard happy to see Koenig hit game winner :14
AUDIO: Greg Gard says no quit in the Badgers :18
AUDIO: Mike Reeves on the Badgers win over Xavier :27