MEN’S BASKETBALL: Lost in Manhattan: Big 12 road streak hits 12
![Kansas State guard Jacob Pullen (0) shoots while covered by Iowa State forward Jamie Vanderbeken (23) and guard Lucca Staiger (5) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Manhattan, Kan., Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2009. Pullen scored 13 points in Kansas State's 65-50 win. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)](https://iowastatedaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/9ae294b6d9708258c838b04459431673.jpg)
Kansas State guard Jacob Pullen (0) shoots while covered by Iowa State forward Jamie Vanderbeken (23) and guard Lucca Staiger (5) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Manhattan, Kan., Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2009. Pullen scored 13 points in Kansas State’s 65-50 win. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)
February 3, 2009
Different town and same result — Iowa State loses. The Cyclones (12-10, 1-6) lost their 12th straight Big 12 road game, this one to Kansas State 65-50 (15-7, 4-4) in Manhattan, Kan.
Iowa State didn’t really shoot well, didn’t really rebound well and didn’t really get to the foul line, ultimately brewing up the perfect recipe for a loss.
The two teams’ different philosophies in offensive rebounding may have been the biggest difference in the game. The Wildcats crashed the glass for 15 offensive rebounds and had multiple two- or three-shot possessions.
Iowa State, which likes to retreat back and play defense right after a shot, only had 5 offensive boards.
Once again Craig Brackins led the way for the Cyclones with 14 points and nine rebounds, but with four fouls he sat on the bench with foul trouble in the second half when the Cyclones could have used him.
Kansas State used a balanced scoring attack with four players in double figures, led by Denis Clemente with 15.
The Cyclones got a big lift off their bench from Jamie Vanderbeken. The junior college transfer had 14 points and has scored in double figures the past two games, which he hadn’t done since the season-opener.
Diante Garrett’s streaky play continued, going 2-of-13 from the floor with 8 points and 3 turnovers.
Garrett wasn’t the only one who couldn’t hit a shot, however. The entire team shot just 33 percent from the field. The 3-point line was even more of a mystery, with the Cyclones going 5-of-21 from beyond the arc.
Iowa State started out the game on the right foot, taking an early 18-12 lead with big buckets from Brackins, Vanderbeken and Lucca Staiger. But as the first half ended, Kansas State flexed its muscle and took a 27-22 lead in the low scoring affair.
The Cyclones made one innocent threat in the second half when a Vanderbeken bomb tied the score at 36, but a 9-0 Wildcat run put the game away with eight minutes left.
To say Iowa State’s offense has disappeared in its last few road games would be an understatement. The Cyclones have scored 50 points or less in their last three road games, all losses.
The offense looked out of sync most of the night with a lot of forced 3-point shots. Brackins, who usually stays down low, had an uncharacteristic five 3-three point attempts, missing all five of them.
The Cyclones also missed the hoop entirely on a few shots, causing the Kansas State student section to chant “Air ball” whenever Staiger or Bryan Peterson handled the ball.
Iowa State will look to break its five game losing streak on Saturday when it takes on Missouri.