Stanford Steals The Show Cardinal In Final Four After Wild, Wacky Finish

The final score of the Midwest Regional final Sunday was Stanford 79, Rhode Island 77.

Stanford is in the Final Four for the first time since it won the national title in 1942.

Beyond that, the details get sketchy.

“There were a lot of things that happened in the last minute,” Stanford coach Mike Montgomery said.

Thanks for the understatement, coach. This has been a wild NCAA tournament, marked by buzzer-beaters, upsets and Valparaiso’s run to the Sweet 16. But March Madness redefined itself in a few bizarre moments in the Kiel Center.

In 49 seconds, Montgomery’s second-seeded Cardinal went from six points down to five points ahead of eighth-seeded Rhode Island.

“They cut my heart out and my team’s heart out,” Rhode Island coach Jim Harrick said. “It’s a shame that we had to lose this game in the manner that we lost it.”

The Rams, who beat top-seeded Kansas to get here, were bidding to become the third-lowest seed ever to reach the Final Four. Instead, the third-seeded Cardinal is headed to San Antonio to meet South champion Kentucky and the Rams are going home wondering what exactly hit them.

Stanford guard Arthur Lee, who scored seven points in the frantic Cardinal rally, hit them. So did the referees - at least according to the Rams, who complained bitterly about the officiating.

The story begins at the end of the game. With 59 seconds to play, Rhode Island star Cuttino Mobley hit two free throws to put the Rams ahead 71-65.

Twenty-seven seconds later, the Rams still led 74-70.

Then a strange thing happened.

Lee slipped down the left side of the lane for a layup. There was a whistle, and a foul was called on befuddled Rhode Island center Luther Clay.

Lee hit the free throw to make it 74-73.

Mobley took the inbounds pass, turned and dribbled into triple-team coverage. Lee took a swipe at the ball, redirecting it to teammate Mark Madsen, who took a drop step and jammed.

And was fouled by Antonio Reynolds-Dean.

Madsen hit the free throw to make it 76-74, Cardinal. Stanford scored six unanswered points in 13 seconds.

After a Rhode Island turnover and a free throw by Stanford’s Kris Weems, the Rams trailed 77-74. URI’s Tyson Wheeler was then fouled on a three-point attempt. With 5 seconds to play, Wheeler, a 66 percent free-throw shooter, stepped to the line with three shots.

The first one barely touched the rim. Ditto for the second one.

The Rams were finished.

As Wheeler agonized, Lee strolled over toward the Cardinal rooting section and put his hands around his throat in the universal “choke” symbol.

The Rams didn’t appreciate that. Lee later said he had been swept away in the emotion of the moment.

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: THE FINAL FOUR At San Antonio Semifinals, Saturday North Carolina vs. Utah Kentucky vs. Stanford Championship, March 30