If Saturday’s exhibition victory was any indication, Sean Haluska has found a rhythm at Iowa State.

Haluska started his first season in Ames by struggling to find his shot after transferring from Indian Hills Community College last year. On Saturday, he scored 16 points on 4-of-5 shooting from behind the arc.

The resurgence is critical to the Cyclones, coach Greg McDermott said.

“Frankly, Sean’s got to make shots for us,” McDermott said.

Haluska attributed his success on Saturday to his teammates, particularly guards Diante Garrett and Bryan Petersen. Garrett had 10 assists while Petersen added four.

“All my shots were open jump shots, and Diante and Petey and our point guards, and even our bigs, did a good job of throwing out of traps,” Haluska said.

“I was just sitting there open and I just had to knock it down.”

His Indian Hills days saw Haluska go 30-of-89 on three-pointers, but he started his ISU career 0-of-26.

By the end of the season, he improved to 14-31 in his last 13 games.

McDermott saw what he thought Haluska was capable of on Saturday, not only hitting threes but hitting a jumper just inside the arc and a shot in the lane.

“He’s unique in the sense that he can make the three-point shot but he also has a good in-between game. He can make that one and two-dribble pull-up and I think that’s something of a lost art nowadays,” McDermott said.

With a relatively inexperienced front court, Iowa State will need to rely on the three-pointer more this season, and was 10-of-25 on treys against Nebraska-Omaha.

Haluska said McDermott had been encouraging players to take time outside of practice to shoot.

“It’s got to be a staple of our team,” McDermott said.

Scrimmage

Although Saturday was Iowa State’s only exhibition game, the Cyclones scrimmaged Creighton on Nov. 1. Although results of the game weren’t released because of NCAA rules, players and coaches said the scrimmage was helpful, heading into the season.

“I think we learned a lot from the scrimmage,” said sophomore forward Craig Brackins. “It was good to see what we did wrong; a lot of the things that we did right; just to watch. And then especially playing a good team like Creighton, that helps a lot just to play a good exhibition game.”

Haluska talked about how much the game helped new players to get some experience before playing in front of an audience.

McDermott also said the scrimmage “was a positive,” but thought the exhibition game against Nebraska-Omaha was important as well.

“Putting on the uniform and getting in front of the crowd — that’s something you need to do,” McDermott said. “I think, not only for the new guys, but guys that are returning need to get that feeling again and remember what it’s like to be able to execute when the light was on.”

Thompson shows mixed results

Senior forward Alex Thompson was 0-for-6 in Saturday’s game. At one point in the second half, Thompson missed a close shot in the paint, and McDermott called him over to the bench to calm him down.

“He missed some easy shots and was frustrated, and doesn’t understand why they don’t go in,” McDermott said. “What you have to do is forget about it and go to the next play. I know he’s disappointed that he didn’t finish some of those, but he’ll make the plays when he needs to make plays.”

Thompson did grab eight rebounds, and McDermott said Iowa State needs Thompson to contribute more than points.

“He’s really important because of what he brings on the defensive end of the floor and on the backboards,” McDermott said. “He got eight rebounds and he’s hustling around out there and talking on the defensive end of the floor.”

In the post, Brackins had 17 points.Transfer Jamie Vanderbeken had five points. The three freshmen, Clinton Mann, L.A. Pomlee and Justin Hamilton combined for 10 points.