Wesley Johnson fought injuries. Now the sophomore guard is facing Big 12 opponents.

The Cyclones opened the Big 12 season Saturday with a 74-67 loss at Baylor with a full, healthy squad.

“All I can say is, it’s about time, because it was like one injury after another,” Johnson said.

Iowa State ended a 17-game pre-conference schedule that was marred with a laundry list of injures.

Seniors Jiri Hubalek and Rahshon Clark missed time with injured feet. Junior Sean Haluska has been nursing an injured back, and Johnson was forced out of action with an injured ankle.

“It tested [my patience] and [Greg McDermott’s], as far as us being healthy,” Johnson said.

It also tested their game. Hubalek, a senior center, averaged 11.2 points and 6.8 rebounds last season. Johnson helped pace the offense with 12.3 points per game.

Most of the non-conference schedule was spent working the injured ankle back into game shape. Now, he says he’s fully healthy.

“We’re back healthy,” Johnson said. “Now we can move on.”

The Cyclones move on from a 10-5 non-conference schedule, winning seven of their last eight non-conference games, including a 77-51 victory over North Dakota. Iowa State, which led by as much as 40 over North Dakota, began their streak after a Dec. 5 79-44 loss at Drake.

Fans may see that game as a turning point. McDermott sees it as rehab time for Johnson, who played only 17 minutes in the loss.

“That game happened at a time when Wesley Johnson was starting to come back healthy and being on the floor,” McDermott said.

And a healthy Johnson is a good Johnson. The sophomore is leading the team in scoring, averaging 12.5 points per game – a boost to an offense that was once averaging about 50 points a game.

“We go from scoring in the 40s and 50s to maybe the 60s and 70s,” said assistant coach Jeff Rutter.

What a streak

Junior point guard Bryan Petersen wasn’t just helping run the winning streak, he added one of his own.

The junior transfer from Kirkwood Community College went through a four-game span without a turnover. That streak began at Drake as well.

“I think the rest of the guys just feed off his decision-making soundness and sureness,” Rutter said.

This span was highlighted with an 11-point, seven-assist performance against Texas Southern on Dec. 19. After the game, McDermott said he thought the junior was starting to feel more comfortable in the Cyclones’ system.

“He’s learning a new system of play, and he’s learning with a new group of players,” McDermott said.

Get the ball

Forget about technique. Rutter said he wants to see his team get down and dirty when it comes to rebounds.

“We haven’t rebounded the basketball very well from an offensive standpoint, but equally as concerning on the defensive backboards,” Rutter said.

The Cyclones are averaging 35.4 rebounds per game. On Saturday they had 44 against the Bears.

“We could talk about our guys needing to go after those rebounds harder to release on their blockouts, but I think our staff is pretty old-school, and we’d like to see us become more physical and face-check a little bit better,” Rutter said.

A piece of history

Cyclone fans can now purchase a piece of ISU history.

Six-packs of Coca-Cola bottles are now on sale at various outlets throughout the state, contain vintage photographs to commemorate the 100th anniversary of ISU basketball on the side of the carton.

Clark got his first look at the bottles last Monday and was asked if he got a kickback from the purchases.

“Nah,” Clark said. “I wish I had one of these. They look pretty good.”

Some more Hilton Magic

Barry Stevens is credited with starting “Hilton Magic.”

On Jan. 16, he’ll become a permanent part of Hilton Coliseum when the Cyclones retire his No. 35 jersey before hosting Missouri.

Stevens, who died of a heart attack on Feb. 21, 2007, ranks second in school history with 2,190 points.

It was his 40 points against Missouri on Feb. 8, 1983 that helped solidify the term “Hilton Magic,” when the forward hit the game winning jump shot from the top of the key as time expired to give the Cyclones a 73-72 overtime win against the then-No. 10 Tigers.