Nashville, Tenn. ? When it was over, a jubilant Allan Ray clutched his jersey and extended the word Villanova toward an appreciative crowd chanting “Sweet 16” and “We want N.C.”

The Wildcats indeed will get North Carolina.

Stirring memories of the school’s improbable run to its only national title 20 years ago, fifth-seeded Villanova got a huge performance from backup center Jason Fraser and humbled fourth-seeded Florida, 76-65, Sunday in the second round of the Syracuse Regional.

With standout Curtis Sumpter sitting out much of the game because of an injury and Ray, the team’s leading scorer, struggling, Fraser, Randy Foye and Kyle Lowry led the Wildcats into the round of 16 for the first time since 1988 — where they will face top-seed North Carolina.

“Curtis Sumpter is really our leader. He’s the rock,” Villanova coach Jay Wright said. “For him to go down and all these guys step up, it’s incredible.”

Twenty years ago, Villanova pulled off one of the biggest upsets in tournament history when the Wildcats beat Patrick Ewing-led Georgetown for the NCAA title.

And with the star of that team — Ed Pinckney — on the bench as an assistant coach, the Wildcats look capable of getting back to the Final Four.

Fraser had 21 points and 15 rebounds. Foye scored 18, and Lowry contributed 15 off the bench to pick up the slack for Ray and Sumpter, who left the game after scoring eight early points and twice tumbling to the court and clutching his left knee.

Sumpter’s status for the next round is uncertain.

“He hasn’t had any X-rays or anything, so we don’t know how serious it is,” Wright said.

Ray went 0-for-6 from the field, but made seven of eight free throws in the final 4:03 to help Villanova (24-7) pull away after wasting most of a 14-point first-half lead. Fraser had nine offensive rebounds, shot 5-for-9 and was a surprising 11-of-17 from the foul line.

Florida closed to 44-43 early in the second half, then saw its chances slip away during a seven-minute scoring drought.

The Gators (24-8) were held to 38.5 shooting and got little offensive support for David Lee, who did his best to keep them in the game with 20 points, 10 rebounds, three blocks and three steals.