The Lowdown

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Iowa State rallied from trailing by as much as 14 points in the first half and 12 with 7:42 left in the game to win its first Big 12 tournament game in seven years with its 73-66 victory against No. 4-seeded Oklahoma on Thursday.   

Melvin Ejim finished with 23 points and 11 rebounds for his 14th double-double of the season, while Will Clyburn had a 17 points after only scoring two in the first half.

Turning Point

With 7:42 left in the game, the Cyclones trailed 60-48. Sparked by a Georges Niang 3-pointer, Iowa State went on a 12-0 run to tie the ballgame.

After Iowa State took a 63-62 lead with 3:19 left, it never lost the lead.

X Factor

Melvin Ejim — The junior played nearly the entire game, amassing his 14th double-double of the season, tallying 23 points and 12 rebounds. 

By The Numbers

14 — Melvin Ejim recorded his 14th double-double of the season, leading the Big 12. This one also gave him a double-double against every Big 12 team this year. 

1-12 — Iowa State started an abysmal 1-12 from 3-point range in the first half.

12-0 — After trailing nearly the entire game with the score 60-48, Iowa State went on a 12-0 run to tie the game. 

25-6 — Iowa State finished the game on a 25-6 run. 

8:10 — Oklahoma didn’t score a field goal in the last 8:10 of the second half. 

Quotables

“Those last nine minutes defensively was as good as we have been all season. To hold the team with Oklahoma’s firepower to 28 percent in the second half is a great stat for us.” — ISU head coach Fred Hoiberg on his teams’ defense

“The other thing I want to point out is Bubu Palo, who didn’t play at all really until about the five‑minute mark, and then he brought us home.” — Hoiberg on Palo playing the end of the game for Korie Lucious

“We have a team full of shooters. And one thing about shooters, you have to have confidence. Forget about making or missing. If you miss a shot, gotta shoot the next one. That’s what we have on this team. Shooters with confidence.” — Will Clyburn on his team’s shooting

“They were quicker to the loose balls. They played a little bit harder. And, I mean, point‑blank they made shots towards the end. Shots they were missing in the first half they continued to shoot and they made them towards the end of the game.” — OU guard Sam Grooms on how Iowa State came back