OMAHA, Neb. — Wisconsin mixed in some finesse with its usual toughness, and now the Badgers are headed to the Midwest Regional semifinals.

Trevon Hughes matched his career high with 25 points, and third-seeded Wisconsin made Kansas State freshman star Michael Beasley disappear in the second half of a 72-55 victory in the second round of the NCAA tournament today.

Beasley scored 23 points in what might be his last college game, but he had only six after halftime.

The third-seeded Badgers (31-4), who set a school record for wins in a season, play either Kansas or UNLV in the round of 16 next week in Detroit. Wisconsin heads to the Motor City with wins in 12 straight games and 25 of the past 27.

Hughes, who had just eight points in a 71-56 first-round win over Cal State Fullerton, scored in double figures for the first time in seven games and had his biggest output since scoring 25 in the season opener against IPFW.

Hughes scored eight points in a 13-2 run over the first and second halves to break open the game, and hit four of the Badgers' nine 3-pointers.

Beasley, just 2-for-6 in the second half, hugged teammates and coaches when he left the game for the last time with 53.9 seconds left. Many expect him to declare for the NBA draft.

Fellow freshman Bill Walker scored 18 points for the Wildcats (21-12), who missed all 13 of their 3-point attempts.

Michael Flowers had 15 points and Greg Stiemsma 14 for the Badgers, who are in the regional semifinals for the first time since 2005.