The Lowdown

Behind an 18-point second half from senior Melvin Ejim, the No. 16 ISU mens basketball team held on against No. 22 Kansas State 81-75. 

In the first half, Iowa State jumped out to a 12 point lead at halftime with the score 46-34. In that half, the Cyclones hit eight 3-pointers on 11 attempts. The season average for the team is 8.71. 

In the second half, Iowa State hit only one 3-pointer, coming from Georges Niang to snap an 11-0 run from Kansas State who clawed back to tie the game at 50. 

Iowa State finished the game making 20-of-28 free throws, making 14-of-19 in the second half to ice the game. 

Iowa State improves to 15-3 overall and 3-3 in the Big 12. They next travel to Lawrence, Kan., to face No. 8 Kansas on Wednesday, Jan. 29. Tipoff is at 8 p.m.

Turning Point

With 32 second left in the game and Iowa State leading 76-73, Kansas State’s Shane Southwell rose up for a 3-pointer to potentially tie the game. Melvin Ejim jumped with him, blocked the ball and Dustin Hogue grabbed the rebound  before he was fouled to go shoot free throws. 

From there, Iowa State went 5-6 from the free throw line and iced the game away. 

X Factor

Matt Thomas — Coming off the bench and out of a slump, the frosh hit four triples in the first half, which was the same amount he’d hit in the previous four games. Thomas finished with 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting.

By The Numbers

8 — Iowa State hit eight 3-pointers in the first half on 11 attempts. The Cyclones are averaging 8.71 per game this season. 

4 — The number of triples Matt Thomas hit in the first half. He’d only hit four in the previous four games combined on 4-of-17 shooting. 

1-7 — Iowa State made only one 3-pointer in the second half coming from Georges Niang, which ended an 11-0 run from Kansas State early in the second half. 

18 — The number of second-half points from Melvin Ejim. He had 20 on the night, going 5-of-11 from the field, hitting 10-of-11 free throws and grabbed nine rebounds.

17 — Iowa State totaled 17 assists on 26 made baskets.