Baylor, Iowa State push Big 12 into Sweet 16

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Baylor and Iowa State left Texas bound for the Sweet 16. Both are hoping to return for the Final Four.

The Big 12 powers emerged from the NCAA tournament’s first weekend displaying dominance and doggedness: No. 6 seed Baylor advanced after crushing Creighton, and third-seeded Iowa State is alive after winning without star Georges Niang in a thriller against North Carolina.

The Cyclones (28-7) head to New York City to play No. 7 seed Connecticut in the East Regional semifinals. The Bears (26-11) get No. 2 seed Wisconsin in Anaheim, Calif., in the West Regional.

“I think we’re going to stay in San Antonio instead of going to Anaheim,” Baylor coach Scott Drew said.

Drew was laughing — but Baylor’s potential to return to Texas in two weeks for the Final Four near Dallas is no joke. The Bears have won 12 of 14 and looked fearsome in beating Creighton 85-55.

Isaiah Austin and Brady Heslip each scored 17 points and Baylor shut down Creighton’s Doug McDermott with suffocating defense.

McDermott, who averaged 27 points this season, finished with 15 but had just three in the first half as Baylor built a 20-point lead.

“This is the worst we’ve played all season, and it just stinks that it’s the last one,” McDermott said.

The Tar Heels can relate to a tough finish.

Iowa State’s DeAndre Kane drove for the gamewinning layup with 1.6 seconds left for an 85-83 win, sending the Cyclones to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2000. Kane finished with 24 points and 10 rebounds in just the kind of big game the Cyclones needed without Niang, who broke his foot in Friday’s win against North Carolina Central.