CHICAGO – Alando Tucker banked in the biggest shot of Wisconsin’s season Saturday, hitting a running 3-pointer at the buzzer as the Badgers stunned Iowa 59-56 in the Big Ten semifinals.

After two timeouts with 3.7 seconds to play, Tucker took an inbounds pass from Zach Morley, raced up the right side of the court just in front of Adam Haluska and let it fly.

When the ball kissed off the glass and went through, the No. 23 Badgers raced to the floor in celebration. After a short wait for an officials’ review, they had an emotional victory to take into Sunday’s title game against top-ranked Illinois.

Greg Brunner tied the game with 3.7 seconds to go for Iowa (21-11) when he followed in a miss by Haluska on a 3-point attempt.

Wisconsin’s Mike Wilkinson, saddled with foul problems, hit two baskets in the final 1:18, including a jumper that put the Badgers ahead 56-54 with 32 seconds to go.

Iowa set up a last shot with Jeff Horner firing a pass to a wide-open Haluska in the corner. His 3-point attempt went high off the rim and Brunner was there to put it back in, tying the game at 56.

Even though they had to take the ball out under the Iowa basket, the Badgers (22-7) made it work as Tucker hit the shot that left the Hawkeyes shaking their heads in disbelief.

Wisconsin won the Big Ten tournament a year ago, beating Illinois in the finals.

Tucker finished with 20 points on 7-for-12 shooting and Morley again came off the bench for another big game, following his career-high 23-point effort against Ohio State in the quarterfinals with 17.

Brunner had 18 points and Horner chipped in 12 as Iowa’s five-game winning streak ended in painful fashion. The Hawkeyes will now wait until Sunday to find out if they can get into the NCAA tournament or head back to the NIT for a fourth straight year.

With the Badgers nursing a one-point lead, Tucker took a nifty pass from Michael Flowers and was headed for a layup when Iowa’s Doug Thomas swatted him across the head, an intentional foul.

Tucker made both free throws with 7 minutes left for a three-point lead.

Horner’s two free throws cut it to one and the Hawkeyes had a chance for the lead following a timeout with 1:54 to go.

But Morley stepped in front of a pass for Brunner and then called a timeout before he fell out of bounds with 1:42 to go.

Wilkinson had his shot blocked by Brunner but somehow managed to get the rebound and follow it in, getting fouled on the play. He missed the free throw, keeping the Badgers’ lead at 54-51.

Brunner then made one and missed the second at the line, but Erek Hansen got the offensive rebound, was fouled and made both free throws with a minute left to tie the game at 54.

The Badgers led 27-26 at the half, despite two 5-minute scoring droughts.

AP-ES-03-12-05 1845EST