TUCSON, Ariz. -- Kansas State's Jacob Pullen won the individual matchup of marquee point guards, scoring anywhere and everywhere while Wisconsin's Jordan Taylor clanged one shot after another.

When it was over, Taylor was the one headed to the next round of the NCAA tournament, leaving Pullen dejected and wiping away tears with his jersey.

Finding ways to contribute even when his shots weren't falling, Taylor made the biggest plays of the game down the stretch, hitting two big free throws and blocking Pullen's tying 3-point attempt in the closing seconds to seal the Badgers' 70-65 win over Kansas State on Saturday.

"He was having a rough shooting night, but he was a taskmaster of his own skills and his own abilities," Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan said. "He's not going to throw the rest of it away simply because things have gotten away from him. He's that dedicated to being the leader on this team on the floor."

The anticipated duel of point guards was a one-sided show from a scoring standpoint, with Pullen matching a career high with 38 points and Taylor shooting just 2 of 16 from the floor.

Wisconsin's floor general made the plays when it mattered most, though, getting a steal in the post against a much bigger player to set up Mike Bruesewitz's tiebreaking 3 with 91 seconds left, then swatting Pullen's tying attempt after hitting two free throws that put the Badgers up by three.

Josh Gasser sealed it with two more free throws, sending fourth-seeded Wisconsin (25-8) into the round of 16 for the fourth time since 2000. The Badgers will face upset specialist Butler, a winner over top-seeded Pittsburgh, in the Southeast regional semifinals Thursday in New Orleans.