Updated at 4:15 p.m. CST March 18

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Growing up, most kids dream of the chance to make it to the NCAA tournament, and for many, those dreams go unfulfilled. After three seasons of struggles, senior center Jared Homan finally realized that dream Friday when the ISU men’s basketball team defeated Minnesota 64-53 in the first round of the tournament at Charlotte Coliseum.

“Everybody dreamed of this when they were a kid, playing in the NCAA tournament, especially a second-round matchup with North Carolina,” said Homan, a Remsen native. “Myself, coming from a small town, 1,700 people, that’s something you dream about, playing for the Cyclones, playing against North Carolina.”

Homan certainly took advantage of the opportunity as he ended the game with 14 points, tied a season high with 13 rebounds and seven blocks, tying his career high.

“Jared was terrific today. He was very physical,” head coach Wayne Morgan said. “I think the country got a chance today to see one of the better big men in the country that no body saw.”

Play was close in the opening minutes of the game. But after reclaiming the lead, 10-9, with 13:28 remaining on a Curtis Stinson layup, Iowa State started to pull away.

The Cyclones outscored the Golden Gophers 23-14 to lead the game 33-23 going into halftime.

Stinson led Iowa State in the first half with 10 points.

Vincent Grier led the Gophers with eight points.

In the second half, Iowa State maintained its lead and had it up to 14 with 17:00 remaining. But it can’t be March basketball without a little late-game tension and worry.

Iowa State’s lead was cut to five with just over two minutes left in the game behind the 3-point shooting of Aaron Robinson.

Free throws were key as Iowa State shot 4-of-6 from the line in the last 1:24 of the contest. Minnesota never got closer than five as Iowa State went on to win 64-53 and get its first NCAA Tournament victory since 2000.

Obviously, we are unbelievably happy and pleased to win a game in the NCAA tournament,” Morgan said “I think we’re overjoyed to win a game in this tournament. But as coaches, you learn to get through the last contest and get ready for the next one.”

Stinson led the Cyclones with 18 points and also pulled down six rebounds.

Grier and Brent Lawson both finished with 14 for Minnesota.

For much of the game, the Iowa State defense seemed to frustrate the Gophers as it forced 17 turnovers and had 12 steals.

“We wanted to press them,” Morgan said.

Homan said Iowa State’s full-court press seemed to be the most disruptive for the Gophers.

“I think that’s where they were the least comfortable,” Homan said.

Minnesota head coach Dan Monson said, “Let’s be honest — we haven’t won a lot of games this year because we were comfortable offensively; that hasn’t been our strength.”

Up next for Iowa State will be second-ranked and No. 1 seed North Carolina at 1:30 p.m. Sunday. The Tar Heels beat No. 16 seed Oakland (Mich.) Friday 96-68.

It will be the first Iowa State-North Carolina since March 19, 1995, when the Tar Heels defeated Iowa State 73-51 in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

The Cyclones will again face coach Roy Williams, who left Kansas two years ago.

“We’re ready for any challenge,” Stinson said. “We know [North Carolina] is going to get up and down, we’re going to get up and down. Two teams running, whoever gets control of the game, that’s who I think will be the better team.”

Morgan said he knows North Carolina will want to run.

“We’re not going to change the way we play,” Morgan said. “I don’t think I can teach them a different style of play between now and Sunday. I’m not that good of a coach.”

Iowa State 64, Minnesota 53

at Charlotte, N.C.

Iowa State (19-11) — Homan 5-13 4-7 14, Clark 5-8 3-4 14, Staple 3-4 0-0 6, Stinson 7-18 4-6 18, Blalock 2-7 1-2 5, Braet 0-0 0-0 0, Carr 3-7 0-0 7. Totals 25-57 12-19 64.

Minnesota (21-11) — Hagen 3-7 1-3 7, Coleman 2-8 0-0 5, Lawson 4-8 5-5 14, Grier 7-20 0-1 14, Robinson 4-15 0-1 11, Stamper 0-2 0-0 0, Tucker 0-2 0-0 0, Tollackson 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 21-63 6-10 53.

Halftime — Iowa State 33, Minnesota 23. Three-point goals — Iowa State 2-8 (Clark 1-2, Stinson 0-1, Blalock 0-2, Carr 1-3), Minnesota 5-23 (Coleman 1-3, Lawson 1-5, Grier 0-2, Robinson 3-12, Tucker 0-1). Rebounds — Iowa State 35 (Homan 13), Minnesota 35 (Hagen 10). Assists— Iowa State 11 (Stinson, Blalock 4), Minnesota 8 (Lawson, Robinson 3). Turnovers — Iowa State 13, Minnesota 17. Fouls — Iowa State 17, Minnesota 18. Fouled out — Carr, Lawson. A — N/A.