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  • Iowa State Keeps On Rolling As The Cyclones Blow Down The Omaha Mavericks, 83-51

Iowa State Keeps On Rolling As The Cyclones Blow Down The Omaha Mavericks, 83-51

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Basketball

No. 3 Iowa State (9-1, 0-0 Big 12) increased its homecourt winning streak to 24 games in an 83-51 victory vs. Omaha (4-9, 0-0 Summit League) Sunday afternoon in Hilton Coliseum.

After a sluggish start, the Cyclones rebounded with a 20-2 run to end the first half to seize control. The Cyclones have scored 80+ points in all 10 games this season, marking the first time in school history ISU has opened a season with 10-straight 80-point performances.

Keshon Gilbert led the way for the Cyclones with 16 points while connecting on 6-of-9 shots from the field to help ISU shoot above 50 percent (53.3 pct.) for the fifth time in the last six games.

Gilbert was joined by four other Cyclones in double-figuring scoring. Joshua Jefferson and Milan Momcilovic each scored 13 points and Tamin Lipsey and Nate Heise chipped in with 11 and 10 points, respectively. The Cyclones are now 12-0 in the T.J. Otzelberger era when five players score 10+ points.

Jefferson grabbed a team-high eight caroms and Curtis Jones led the Cyclones in assists with six.

How it Happened
Omaha's J.J. White buried a 3-pointer at the midway point of the first half to give the Mavericks their first lead of the game at 17-16. Up to that point, ISU had turned the ball over eight times and could never get into rhythm.

The game was still tied at 21-21 with 6:53 left in the first half, but the anxiety inside Hilton Coliseum soon diminished as the Cyclones closed the half on an impressive 20-2 run.

ISU held Omaha scoreless for nearly five minutes and quit turning the ball over. Gilbert played a huge role in the spurt. He started it with a trey and had seven points in the run to give the Cyclones a 41-23 lead at the break.

Another spurt by the Cyclones in the early moments of the second half, this time a 9-0 run, put the game out of reach. Gilbert converted an and-one and Heise made a tough left-handed reverse layup off a beautiful bounce pass from Jones to move ISU out in front 52-27.

The Mavericks briefly trimmed the lead to 18 points at one point, but back-to-back Momcilovic 3-pointers gave the Cyclones a 28-point advantage (69-41) with 8:52 left in the contest.

Key Performer
Nate Heise's confidence and playmaking ability has improved dramatically over the last two weeks. Heise gave the Cyclones a spark off the bench again tonight with 10 points, five rebounds and two assists. Heise made both of his 3-point field goal attempts and his ability to guard the perimeter has been outstanding. The Cyclones made their huge run late in the opening period with Heise on the floor.

Notes

  • Joshua Jefferson played in his 70th career game.
    • He eclipsed 100 career assists, dishing three.
  • Curtis Jones went over 1,100 points in his career.
    • Notched assist number 100 at ISU today, dishing six.
  • Keshon Gilbert now has over 1,100 points in his career.
  • Brandton Chatfield pulled in rebound number 500 today.

Up Next
Iowa State remains at home next Sunday (Dec. 22) in its final non-conference game playing host to Morgan state. Tipoff is set for Noon on ESPN+.