The Lowdown

In a game important to determining the upper-echelon of the Big 12 Conference, No. 17 Iowa State beat No. 19 Texas 85-76 in a top-25 matchup Tuesday night at Hilton Coliseum. 

Iowa State (20-5, 8-5 Big 12) took a nine-point lead to the break against Texas (20-6, 9-4), holding the Longhorns to 27 percent shooting in the first half. That number improved in the second half, but Texas ended the game with a 32.4 shooting percentage.

The Cyclones were led by senior forward Melvin Ejim, who scored 25 points to go with eight rebounds. DeAndre Kane filled the stat sheet with 22 points, seven rebounds and five assists and Georges Niang was the third Cyclone to finish with 20-plus points, adding an even 20. 

The win puts Iowa State in a tie for third place in the Big 12, inching them within one game of Texas and second place. The Cyclones return to the court at 3 p.m. Saturday to take on Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas. 

Turning Point

With 6:04 remaining in the game and Iowa State leading by eight points, Dustin Hogue’s free throw miss bounced high into the air off the rim. Niang promptly rebounded the miss for a putback and a double-figure lead.

The Cyclones never looked back, eventually leading by as many as 13 points before closing out the Longhorns on Tuesday night. 

X Factor

Melvin Ejim — Melvin Ejim scored 25 points in the ISU victory Tuesday to go along with eight rebounds. His scoring was efficient as the senior went 9-of-14 from the field with two 3-pointers. 

By the Numbers

21 — Iowa State assisted on 21 of its 30 baskets in the win against Texas, a stat ISU coach Fred Hoiberg often looks to. 

67 — Ejim, Kane and Niang combined for 67 of Iowa State’s 85 points in Tuesday’s victory, going a combined 24-of-42 from the field for a 57.1 shooting percentage from the field. 

963 — Ejim moved to third all-time in rebounds at Iowa State with his eight against the Longhorns. He passed Bill Cain (957) while moving up.