The Lowdown

No. 11 Iowa State let an 18-point second half lead slip away before holding on to win against Texas Tech, 70-64. 

Iowa State led 39-29 at half, before allowing Tech to reclaim the lead at 63-62, going on a 15-2 run in the middle of the second half. 

Iowa State finished the game on an 8-1 run over the last three minutes of the game to ice it, starting with Matt Thomas’ only bucket of the game, two Georges Niang layups. 

Niang and Kane combined for 34 points on 14-of-26 shooting and added 11 rebounds with 13 assists. Naz Long added 14 points with four 3-pointers and Melvin Ejim had a quiet 13 points and six rebounds on 5-of-8 shooting.

Turning Point

With the score 63-62 and Texas Tech was leading for the first time since 5:41 in the first half, Matt Thomas drove left, absorbed the contact and made a floater with the foul. That shot gave the Cyclones the final lead of the game, spurring them to an 8-1 run to close the game. 

X Factor

Deandre Kane — The senior flirted with a triple-double the entire game, finishing with 17 points of 6-of-12 shooting, nine assists and eight rebounds. 

By The Numbers

4 — Naz Long hit four triples in today’s game, going 4-of-7 overall. Coming into the game, the sophomore was a combined 2-of-18 since Jan. 25. 

18 — Iowa State led by as much as 18 in the second half before the Red Raiders surged back and took the lead at 62-61 with 3:02 left. Iowa State reclaimed the lead and didn’t look back. 

8-1 — Iowa State finished on an 8-1 run to close the game after Texas Tech took the lead with three minutes left at 63-62.

12 — The Cyclones made 12 of their 13 field goals in the second half came on layups. The only one that wasn’t was Naz Long’s solo 3-pointer of the half. 

Up Next

No. 11 Iowa State next faces No. 19 Texas on Tuesday at Hilton Coliseum at 6:00 p.m. The game is scheduled to be televised on ESPN2.