Stretching out the hardwood for the first time this season, the Iowa State men’s basketball team flexed their muscles in an exhibition game, beating the Black Hills State Yellow Jackets 96-47 Monday night.

Not a single Cyclone player saw the floor for more than 21 minutes, and all 12 that played scored a basket against the undersized, under-athletic, and under-conditioned NAIA school from Spearfish, S.D.

“I told them team in the locker room, we probably played better offensively than we’ve been playing in practice,” coach Greg McDermott said after the game. “Part of that is a credit to our guys, because they’re really competing against each other in practice. They understand that playing time is up for grabs.”

The Cyclones got positive efforts from newcomers Marquis Gilstrap and LaRon Dendy, putting up 14 points and 16 points, and star forward Craig Brackins planted 3-of-3 three point shots for a 14-point evening. The Yellow Jackets’ tallest starting player was 6-foot-7 Luke Enos, an NAIA All-American, who finished with 14 points, the only player on the team in double figures.

The Cyclones cycled different units in and out in the tune-up game, showing off their much improved depth and ability to play big or small against opponents.

“We haven’t been fortunate enough to have this kind of depth during my time here,” McDermott said. “It allows you to have someone have a bad night. We’re going to play a lot of guys this year.”

Typical first game nerves got to a number of players, especially those in their first run wearing the Cyclones’ home white uniforms, including the senior Gilstrap, who wanted to make a good first impression on the fans.

“I was very excited. I think I was a little too excited because I got winded real quick,” Gilstrap said.

With defensive pressure up and down the floor and a length extension that enabled Iowa State to outrebound the Yellow Jackets by 17, and shoot an astounding 57-percent from the floor, and 11-for-16 for three point range. Young guards Chris Colvin and Scott Christopherson applied defensive pressure early on, with quick feet and active hands, and Ames-based freshman Bubu Palo even saw some defensive action, applying a tight press with his precious minutes.

“I thought that our pressure over time wore into them, and I tried to explain to our guys early that you can’t try to hit a home run with the pressure early in the game,” McDermott said. “It’s not going to impact the game in the first ten minutes, it will impact in the last ten minutes. By the time we hit the ten minute mark, their point guard wanted nothing to do with Bubu Palo. That’s what pressure will do.”

Black Hills State played in the NAIA Final Four last year, and knew how to win with experience, but their size and depth disadvantage proved to be too much for 40 minutes.

On Friday, the Cyclones will be taking on UNC-Pembroke, a Division II school from the Peach Belt conference, a final tune-up game that doesn’t affect season the schedule or stats.

“We wanted to get the jitters out, let those new guys put on the uniform for the first time, try to get everybody out there, and I didn’t want to play anybody for more than 20 minutes — Our depth is definitely a strength,” McDermott said.

—-Final Stats—-

Iowa State 96 – Black Hills State 47 F

FG%: ISU– 57.6, BHS– 34.5

3 Pt FG%: ISU– 11/16, BHS– 6/18

Rebounds: ISU– 43, BHS– 26

Turnovers: ISU– 10, BHS– 18

Assists: ISU– 16, BHS– 9

Bench Points: ISU– 41, BHS– 14

2nd Chance Points: ISU– 21, BHS– 4