SAN ANTONIO — DeAndre Kane wears 50 in memory of his late father, Calvin, who passed away from a brain aneurysm two years ago at the age of 50. Sunday he gave his father a scene he would’ve been proud of.
Kane sliced to the hoop and rainbowed a layup over two North Carolina defenders with 1.6 seconds left to propel Iowa State to a thrilling 85-83 win for a Cyclones Sweet 16 birth — a moment that must’ve had his father up there smiling.
“I think about my dad all the time, every time I step out on the court,” the senior guard said. “I was celebrating with my teammates at the moment, [but] when I got in the locker room I was definitely thinking about him a lot. I know he’s proud. I know if he was here he’d be happy and he would’ve been right here watching the game. He’s up there smiling. I hope I’m making him proud and keep going from here.’’
Kane’s drive took just a few seconds. The review of North Carolina’s next and final possession, in which an attempt to call a timeout turned into an unceremonious close to the game, took far longer.
But when it was over — after the officials had huddled, reviewed and finally ruled time had run out before Tar Heel Nate Britt could call timeout for a final chance to tie or win the game — Kane had a March Madness moment for himself and his father.
Oh, and a trip to New York for the Cyclones’ first Sweet 16 since 2000. Kane — who stepped up in the wake of Georges Niang’s broken foot — sent the third-seeded Cyclones (28-7) to the East Regional semifinals at the Garden against Connecticut.
It was a great March Madness memory for Kane, who had a game-high 24 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists.
After the basket, Britt pushed the ball up to try and call a timeout, but the buzzer sounded before he reached midcourt. UNC argued vehemently and the officials huddled to review replays before ruling the game was over.
“Let’s not lay it on the officials or anything,’’ Tar Heels coach Roy Williams said. “We didn’t call the timeout with 1.6 seconds to play. The referee said the clock operator started the clock late, and they didn’t recognize my calling the timeout. Then when they did … and went to the monitor, they realized the clock operator had started the clock late, so there shouldn’t have been any time left.’’
Point guard Marcus Paige (team-high 19 points) capped a 10-0 run with a 3-pointer to give UNC a 66-60 lead with 7:56 to play. But the Cyclones went on an 8-0 run to knot it on Melvin Ejim’s transition layup with 2:03 to play. James Michael McAdoo (14 points) hit two foul shots to tie it at 83-all with :15.9 left.
That is, until Kane untied it, as North Carolina let Iowa State hit seven of its last eight shots down the stretch. It’s the first time the Tar Heels have suffered consecutive opening-weekend ousters under Williams, and the first time since 1996 — second since the tournament expanded in 1985 — they and Duke failed to reach the Sweet 16.
“It’s hard. Kane hit an unbelievable shot, and when you think you have an opportunity at the end and realize the time went out and you don’t have the opportunity, it’s tough,’’ said Leslie McDonald, who had 18 points. “You’re hoping that you’re going to have that opportunity, but you don’t. It hit us hard.’’