Missouri matched a season high for points allowed by a Cyclone opponent with 82 on Saturday.

In another impressive offensive display, the Tigers shot 57.4 percent from the field including 56.3 percent from 3-point range.

“We didn’t have that edge on the defensive end,” sophomore forward Diante Garrett said. “You know, getting up in guys that can’t dribble that good, and getting past screens, getting through screens, chasing shooters. I didn’t think we had that edge that we usually have.”

One player in particular that gave the Cyclones trouble defensively was forward DeMarre Carroll. In 31 minutes, Carroll shot 14-of-20 for a game high 31 points.

“He’s a good player, and he’s going to get some, but it was just a matter of fact that we didn’t execute our post defensive plans,” junior forward Jamie Vanderbeken said. “We were going to fire a post double on him, and we didn’t do that as strongly as we should have.”

But the high point total wasn’t entirely Iowa State’s fault. The Tigers are averaging a Big 12-high 84.2 points per game. In the last game, the Cyclones cut under screens and as a result, Missouri hit 13 3-pointers.

“Today we were a little bit more aggressive on the ball screens, tried to be a little bit more aggressive on the shooters, and as a result, DeMarre Carroll really got away from us a few times, and every time we made a mistake on a screening action, or switching a screen, it seems like they made us pay for it,” head coach Greg McDermott said.

Let’s get energized

Seldom-used players Cameron Lee and Charles Boozer saw significant playing time against Missouri with Lee playing nine minutes and Boozer getting 12 minutes. Lee gave the team a boost with tough defense, and Boozer came off the bench to score 11 points.

“We just wanted some energy,” McDermott said.

Lee came into the game after just four minutes and Boozer came in with about 11 minutes left in the first half.

“There are some things they aren’t great at, but one thing they do bring to our team is some emotion and some energy and some effort on the floor and I just felt our effort was a little stale to start the game and that’s why we went to Cam first,” McDermott said.

Brackins’ scary moment

Late in the second half, sophomore forward Craig Brackins went up for a rebound and came down on his ankle strangely.

“He tweaked it, I can’t remember which day in practice this week, and then I think he rolled the same one again,” McDermott said.

After spending a minute or two on the court, Brackins was able to get up and walk to the other end of the floor before being told he had to go to the bench.

“He was prepared to stay in the game so it must not be too bad,” McDermott said.

Vanderbeken sighting

Vanderbeken has seemed to find his spot in the offensive scheme in the last couple games. He was averaging just 5.1 points per game going into the game on Saturday, but in the Cyclones’ last two games Vanderbeken has put in 14 points apiece.

“Coach has been on me to get in the gym, get shots up, because I have been struggling earlier in the season with my shot and it’s just getting reps in and its coming for me right now,” Vanderbeken said.