It didn’t take long for Iowa State’s new starting lineup to get acclimated.

Following a loss to in-state rival Iowa on Friday, Iowa State (7-3) inserted forwards Georges Niang and Percy Gibson into the starting lineup on Sunday against Nebraska-Omaha (2-9, 0-2 Summit). The move provided a needed boost and helped the Cyclones to a 93-65 victory. 

“It was switching things up a little bit after a disappointing loss,” said ISU men’s basketball coach Fred Hoiberg. “I thought everybody responded well.”

It was a quick beginning for the new starters as Niang scored the first basket of the game for the Cyclones and Gibson scored the second, assisted by Niang. That was the start to an early 18-2 lead for Iowa State.

The start was the first of Niang’s career, and the freshman stepped up to the task. Niang led the team with 15 points and added six rebounds and four assists while Gibson added another 10 points and six rebounds of his own.

“Those guys do a good job playing with each other,” Hoiberg said. “They’ve been playing together off the bench and I decided to start them as a tandem tonight.”

After scoring 13 points in the first half against Iowa in the team’s last game Niang scored 11 in the first 20 minutes on Sunday. It was the sixth time in 10 games this season that Niang has reached double figures in points.

“It felt pretty good, I feel like it didn’t really change much,” Niang said of starting. “It’s the same Georges you’re going to see all year, nothing changes.”

With Niang and Gibson in the lineup, however, it was a much different sight at Hilton Coliseum. Forwards Melvin Ejim and Anthony Booker came off the bench for the Cyclones with the change after both started the first nine games of the season.

Against Iowa on Friday, Ejim fouled out and Booker picked up two quick fouls. That was enough for Hoiberg to make a change, and so the two adjusted to the new role.

“I handled it the best way a senior can,” Booker said. “I’ve been in some foul trouble lately, so it was coach’s idea to bring me off the bench.”

In 18 minutes off the bench on Sunday, Ejim led the team with 13 rebounds and scored seven points while Booker scored 11 points and added six rebounds.

Overall, the Cyclones out-rebounded Omaha 45-24 and had only six turnovers after having 19 in their previous game.

Whether the new starting lineup becomes a consistency remains to be seen, but for Sunday at least, Hoiberg was satisfied.

“I thought the lineup change worked well,” Hoiberg said. “Now we’ve got a week to evaluate it and see what we want to do against Drake.”

Iowa State will face Drake at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines on Saturday at 4 p.m. as part of the Big Four Classic.