The Lowdown

A slow start offensively and a cold night from behind the arc doomed No. 15 Iowa State on the road at Kansas State Saturday night, losing 80-73. 

The duo of Melvin Ejim and Deandre Kane did the heavy lifting on the night, combining for 54 points on 17-of-31 shooting from the field. The two combined for 23 rebounds on the night too. 

After a white-hot shooting night against West Virginia, hitting five triples, Naz Long finished the night 0-of-8 from the field and missed all six of his 3-point attempts. 

Kansas State was led early by Shane Southwell, who started the first few minutes of the game with four consecutive triples to give Kansas State an early 25-15 lead. The Wildcats were balanced in scoring with five players in double figures. 

Turning Point

With two minutes left on the clock, Monte Morris tied the game at 69 with another corner 3-pointer, his only one of the game. 

But from there, Kansas State’s Will Spradling answered mightily with a triple to make it 72-69. After that bucket, Iowa State fouled and the Wildcats made 7-of-10 free throws to finish the game, closing it out on a 11-4 run. 

X Factor

Every Iowa State player not named Melvin Ejim and Deandre Kane — The senior duo combined for 54 of 73 points on the night, but lacked contribution elsewhere. Georges Niang finished with eight points on 3-of-14 shooting and Naz Long and Matt Thomas combined to go 0-of-11 from the floor. 

By The Numbers

0 — The two shooting guards for Iowa State, Naz Long and Matt Thomas, combined to hit zero field goals and combined to go 0-of-9 from behind the arc. 

4 — Kansas State’s Shane Southwell started the night white-hot from behind the arc hitting his first four — after coming into the game a combined 2-of-18 in his previous six games.

12 — Iowa State only dished out 12 assists on the night on 23 made field goals. They lead the nation averaging 18 per game. 

6-35 — All Cyclones not named Melvin Ejim and Deandre Kane combined to hit only 6-of-35 from the field.