LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The ISU men’s basketball team made it interesting early in the second half, but a barrage of 3-pointers led No. 1 overall seed Kentucky past the Cyclones in Louisville on Saturday, 87-71.

The Lowdown

After tying the game at 42-42 with 16:28 left in the second half, Kentucky went on a 20-2 over the next six minutes of game time and pulled away from the Cyclones.

Coming into the game, ISU coaches and players said it would take an effective shooting night from the Cyclones to advance past the popular pick to win the national title. However, Iowa State was cold from all parts of the field in the game, shooting 25-61 from the field (41 percent) and just 3-of-22 from 3-point range (13.6 percent). The Wildcats instead were the sharpshooters, going 10-20 from 3-point range (50 percent) and went 31-of-56 from the field (55.4 percet), led by Marquis Teague’s 24 points.

The lone bright spot for the Cyclones was forward Royce White, who led the charge to tie the game 42-42. White finished the game with 23 points and nine rebounds.

While Iowa State got production out of its two seniors throughout the season, Scott Christopherson and Chris Allen combined to go 2-of-14 from 3-point range and 11-of-30 from the field. Apart from White, Allen and Christopherson — who combined for 54 of the team’s 71 — the next highest scorer for Iowa State was forward Percy Gibson, who finished with nine points.

In contrast, Kentucky had four players in double figures, and every player who played for the Wildcats got on the board. 

Turning point

With the game tied at 42-42, the Wildcats caught fire from the field, and  stormed away to a 62-44 advantage over a six-minute span. During that run, Iowa State didn’t make a single field goal, and went 0-12 from the field over a 7:42 span of game time.

It was also during that run that ISU coach Fred Hoiberg picked up his first-ever technical foul after arguing a call made by official Sean Corbin. 

Once Kentucky stretched out its lead, the Cyclones couldn’t recover, and were eliminated from their first NCAA Tournament berth since 2005.

X-Factor

Forward Royce White

The sophomore from Minneapolis made NBA scouts take notice with his performance Saturday night, with the aforementioned 23 points and nine rebounds. White also sent in four dunks, two of which were coast-to-coast off rebounds.

White also dished out four of the team’s seven total assists. Like in the regular season, White led his team in every statistical category apart from free throw percentage, where he went 5-9, adding a block and three steals as well.

By the numbers

3: 3-pointers made by the Cyclones, making just 13.6 percent of their shots from beyond the arc on the night.

4: players in double figured for Kentucky

7: team assists for Iowa State, four of which came from White.

12: offensive rebounds for both teams in the game.

12-1: Iowa State’s record when White shoots 12 or fewer shots, with Saturday night being it’s first loss

14.5: average margin of victory for Kentucky in its two NCAA tournament games this season (defeated Western Kentucky 81-66 on Thursday)

24: points for the Wildcats’ guard Marquis Teague, a game and team high.

44.3: career 3-point percentage for guard Scott Christopherson, ranking him No. 1 all-time at Iowa State

71.4: percent from the field Teague shot in the game

85.7: percent the Wildcats shot from 3-point range (6-of-7) in the second half