Thanks to a desperation 3-pointer with 1:19 left from Jeff Johnson, and a funky bounce off a missed free throw by Phil Cullen with 11.5 seconds left that allowed an offensive rebound, the Utes hung on for a 48-45 victory over the Saint Louis Billikens to move on to the second round against Michigan State on Saturday afternoon.

With coach Rick Majerus and his staff frantically maneuvering players, frequently out of position, something had to give with the nightcap game of the Midwest Regional at the Convocation Center.

"I couldn't be more happy about the effort our guys put out under the circumstances," Majerus said. "We gave each other our best shot and we're just happy to be here."

Certainly both teams were eminently capable of losing the late-night game. For those brave souls who stuck around after midnight, the Utes proved what it's like to have a gut-check after bedtime.

If the final score sounded like inept offense, one needn't have watched the entire game to get a handle on that. Even in the first half, the Billikens were 3-for-7 from the free-throw line and 8-of-20 from the field.

And Utah was worse. Imagine making just 1-of-6 free throws and 7-of-21 from the field ... perhaps that explains the sad state of affairs that allowed for a 22-19 Saint Louis lead at halftime.

That's the way the pace of the game remained, despite the Utes having a significant size advantage. The Billikens appeared to have things semi-under control until Cullen sank a pair of 3-pointers and Johnson sank his. The Billikens never saw the lead again.

"We had a lot of good looks, and both of us shot very poorly from the foul line which is unusual for us," Majerus said. "We were very fortunate Jeff Johnson threw the ball in there. With all those good looks and something like that falls for you ... ."

They must be doing something right.