UNI Beats UNLV, Advances in NCAA

Northern Iowa guard Kwadzo Ahelegbe (11) loses control of the ball after running into UNLV forward Brice Massamba, left, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Thursday, March 18, 2010, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

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By Becky Ogann

Story Created: Mar 18, 2010 at 7:05 PM CST

Story Updated: Mar 22, 2010 at 7:54 PM CST

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Ali Farokhmanesh hit a 3-pointer from the left wing with 4.9 seconds left to lift ninth-seeded Northern Iowa over UNLV 69-66 on Thursday night in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

Farokhmanesh found himself open after Kwadzo Ahelegbe had chewed up the majority of the clock following Oscar Bellfield's tying 3-pointer for UNLV with 35 seconds remaining. Johnny Moran reversed the ball to Farokhmanesh, who drained the jumper with the shot clock running down.

The Runnin' Rebels (25-9) got one last chance to tie it, but Tre'Von Willis didn't get his 3-pointer off before the final buzzer and it was off-target anyway.

Farokhmanesh finished with 17 points, including three 3-pointers in the second half, and Ahelegbe added 13 points as the Panthers (29-4) snapped a 20-year drought in the NCAA tournament.

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