The Lowdown

Following an overtime loss Wednesday to No. 6 Kansas on the road in the team’s Big 12 opener, Iowa State (11-4, 1-1 Big 12) rebounded in front of the home crowd Saturday with a 82-62 victory against Texas (8-8, 0-3).

The Cyclones were led by point guard Korie Lucious who scored 10 points and dished out nine assists. In the win Georges Niang scored 18 points and Will Clyburn scored 16 for Iowa State. 

Turning Point

With 9:07 remaining in the first half guard Tyrus McGee hit a 3-pointer to bring the crowd at Hilton Coliseum to its feet. The 3-pointer forced Texas to call a timeout and pushed Iowa State’s lead to 27-15.

Just 37 seconds prior, McGee had hit his first 3-pointer of the game after coming off the bench for the Cyclones. 

X Factor

Tyrus McGee — The senior guard spurred Iowa State’s first half run when he hit 3-pointers within 37 seconds on back-to-back ISU possessions. McGee pushed the Cyclones’ lead to 62-50 in the second half with a 3-pointer and three free throws on back-to-back possessions after Texas made a run. 

McGee finished with 15 points on 4-of-8 shooting from beyond the arc for Iowa State in the win. 

By the Numbers

5 — Iowa State limited its turnovers to just five in the win. Entering the game the Cyclones were averaging 14.6 turnovers per game in 14 games. 

4 — The Cyclones had four players with double-digit point totals against Texas. In the Big 12 opener Wednesday against Kansas the team had six players reach double figures. 

11 — The number of 3-pointers for the Cyclones in the win. Iowa State went 11-of-26 as a team for a 42.3 shooting percentage beyond the arc. It was the eighth time this season the team has had at least 10 3-pointers. 

18 — Iowa State had 18 assists on its 25 field goals in the win. The Cyclones were led by Lucious, who dished out nine assists. 

Quotables

“I think they’re a better team this year than they were a year ago. I just like the way they flow and I think they do a nice job.” — UT coach Rick Barnes on this season’s Iowa State team compared to last season’s. 

“I’m just really trying to be more stable with the ball. Coach talks to me all the time about making safe plays instead of making home run plays. It’s working out so far, so I’m just going to keep trying to do that.” — Guard Korie Lucious on his rhythm in recent games for the Cyclones. 

“We’re assisting on a great percentage of our made field goals. I think that’s the sign of an unselfish team when you have that. The biggest thing for me is the five turnovers. If we make our free throws down the stretch we’re in the upper-80’s against a team that’s as good defensively as we’ll play all year.” — ISU coach Fred Hoiberg on his team having 18 assists on 25 made field goals. 

“It’s infectious. Tyrus is the guy that’s going in there [off the bench] and he likes that role. He’s got that Vinnie Johnson type microwave role to go in there and score baskets in a hurry. We run a lot of plays for him when he’s in the game and more often times than not he responds.” — Hoiberg on McGee’s production off the bench. The senior scored 15 points in 17 minutes in the win Saturday. 

“I’m just glad we got this win so we can stop talking about Kansas. I feel bad because I missed a layup that didn’t give Korie his tenth assist, but maybe I’ll make the next ten.” — Forward Georges Niang on not having a hangover after losing to No. 6 Kansas on the road Wednesday. 

“For the record I don’t know if I’ve gotten the Kansas game out of my system, I don’t know if I’ll ever get the Kansas game out of my system. It was such a heartbreaker, such a disappointment. You go back and it goes through your mind all through the night. Some nights I don’t sleep great, but it’s been a couple of really, really rough nights for me.” — Hoiberg talking about trying to get the overtime loss to Kansas out of his mind.