NIT Roundup: Wisconsin Sneaks Past Oregon; Quarterfinals Conclude Wednesday

Wisconsin and North Texas took down No. 1 seeds Oregon and Oklahoma State in the NIT quarterfinals on Tuesday. UAB, Vanderbilt, Cincinnati and Utah Valley are in action on Wednesday to decide the final two teams headed to the semifinals in Las Vegas.

Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK

Wisconsin was in the danger zone during Wednesday's NIT quarterfinals when No. 1 seed Oregon took a six-point lead with 3:27 left in the game. The No. 3 seed Badgers trailed for the previous 10 minutes, but they weren't discouraged by a 2-for-9 start from 3-point range in the second half.

The rally started with a three from freshman Connor Essegian, followed by a Steven Crowl layup and a three from Max Klesmit to put the Badgers ahead at the 1:42 mark. After Oregon regained the lead, Chucky Hepburn made Wisconsin's third 3-pointer in the final 3:13 of play, this one the most crucial yet. 

And after chasing Oregon's lead for most of the second half, Klesmit – a Neenah, Wisc. native who transferred back home after two seasons at Wofford, – stepped to the free throw line with two seconds remaining, a one-point lead and a chance to seal the game. 

"I'm not scared to take the big shot at the end," Klesmit said. "That's what you think about as a kid in your driveway."

He sunk both free throws, and Wisconsin left Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene, Ore. with a 61-58 win, advancing to next week's NIT semifinals in Las Vegas. 

"He's been terrific, especially the past three-four weeks," Wisconsin coach Greg Gard said of Klesmit, who led the Badgers with 18 points. "In timeouts, he's been very vocal, very encouraging, very competitive. He probably talked more in those huddles down the stretch than I did. Being from the state, wearing that uniform means a ton to him."

Tuesday's results

• No. 3 North Texas 65, No. 1 Oklahoma State 59: Overcoming a seven-point halftime deficit, Oklahoma State's Woody Newton drilled a 3-pointer to force overtime. But behind 23 points from senior guard Tylor Perry, North Texas won the overtime period 10-4 to advance to the NIT semifinals.
• No. 3 Wisconsin 61, No. 1 Oregon 58: Without leading scorer, rebounder and shot-blocker N'Faly Dante, a 6-foot-11 senior, Oregon had its sixth-lowest scoring game of the season. Chucky Hepburn hit a clutch 3-pointer to give Wisconsin the lead with 56 second left, and Max Klesmit led all scorers with 18 points. 

Wednesday's NIT quarterfinal slate

(odds via SI Sportsbook)

• No. 4 UAB at No. 3 Vanderbilt (-1.5), 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2
• No. 4 Cincinnati at Utah Valley (-1), 9 p.m. ET on ESPN2

Full NIT schedule

• Semifinals: March 28 at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, Nev., time TBA on ESPN
• Championship: March 30 at Orleans Arena at 9:40 p.m. ET on ESPN2

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