Former UNC forward Pete Brennan, famous for his last-second shot in the 1957 NCAA tournament semifinal that would later help the Tar Heels to a national championship, died Friday after a battle with prostate cancer, the Associated Press is reporting.
He had been diagnosed with cancer in April and was recently released from a North Carolina hospital, where he was being treated for diverticulitis.
During that notable 1957 NCAA tournament semifinal, Brennan hit a jumper with four seconds remaining against Michigan State to force the first of three overtimes, a game which UNC would go on to win.
After that victory, the Tar Heels went on to defeat Wilt Chamberlain’s Kansas Jayhawks in another triple-overtime game to be crowned national champions.
A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., Brennan won the ACC Player of the Year award in 1958 and was drafted by the New York Knicks with the fourth overall pick in the NBA draft that same year.
The 6-6 Brennan played one season in the NBA for the Knicks in 1958-59.
Daniel Martin is a writer and editor at JohnnyJungle.com, covering St. John’s. You can find him on Twitter:@DanielJMartin_
