SAN JOSE, Calif. — UC Irvine got back-to-back 3-pointers from Evan Leonard to spark the deciding run in a 70-64 upset over Kansas State that marked the Anteaters’ first NCAA Tournament victory in school history.
The Friday victory was the 17th consecutive for UC Irvine, which lost 57-55 to Louisville in 2015 in their 💙only NCAA appeara💟nce.
Leonard and Max Hazzard each scored 19 points to send UC Irvine (31-5) into the second round of the South Region for a matchup against eithe꧂r Wisconsin or Oregon.
One year after making a run to the Elite Eight, the fourth-seeded Wildcats (25-9) had a short stay in the tournament as they sꦑtruggled to decipher the Anteaters zone defense and missed star forward Dean Wade, who was sidelined by a foot injury💞. Kamau Stokes led Kansas State, the co-champions of the Big 12, with 18 points.
Despite that, Kansas State led by 🐻four points midway through the second half before the two long shots from Leonard turned the tides with a streak of 12 consecutive points. Robert Cartwright added another 3-pointer and Leonard ෴made three free throws after being fouled on a 3-pointer to make it 59-51.
The Wildcats cut the deficit to ♛two points, before Hazzard hit a corner 3 with 1:25 to play to ma🔥ke it 66-61 and then struck a pose to the delight of the Anteaters fans who made the trip up from Orange County.
Cartier Diarra hit a 🥃3 for Kansas State off a tꦺip pass from Xavier Sneed and the Wildcats had a chance to tie or take the lead but Barry Brown Jr. threw a pass away with 38.8 seconds to play.
The Anteaters then 🍒sealed the game at the f💯oul line.