The Cyclones started off the regular season with a 79-54 win over Simon Fraser, an NAIA team from British Columbia.

The Cyclones were led by Marcus Fizer, who was very solid with 24 points, shooting 9-12 from the field, including 2-3 from three-point range.

“He really is a different player this year. He’s more mature. He does need to get more than five rebounds, but he defended well and played the post well,” Eustachy said.

The three-point game is something that Fizer looks to stay with.

“Coach Eustachy gives me the freedom to shoot just about anywhere. I can’t be taking them from half court, but otherwise, if it’s a good shot, I can take it,” Fizer said.

Also scoring in double digits were Jamaal Tinsley with 16 and Kantrail Horton with 15, 13 of them coming in the first half.

“It was nice to have two of the top three scorers be guards. That hasn’t happened in a while here,” Eustachy said.

The Cyclones jumped off to an 11-2 lead before the Clan bounced back with a 10-2 run to get the lead down to two.

ISU got the lead up to 10 in the first half, but Simon Fraser, an NAIA team that had lost its previous three games by an average of 23 points, scored the last four points of the half to cut the lead to six at the intermission.

The Cyclones came out in the second half and quickly established control, grabbing a 12-point lead with 13:52 left, and ISU never led by less than that for the duration of the contest.

The biggest advantage was 27, coming on a Richard Evans breakaway layup with under two minutes left in the contest.

Making their debuts tonight were key veterans Martin Rancik and Paul Shirley, who had missed the opener with injuries.

Shirley entered the contest with 13:21 left in the first half and for a good portion of the game looked like he was at a Tony Rampton audition.

However, the junior from Meridian, Kan., bounced back and had a decent second half, scoring three points and grabbing three rebounds.

“It was nice to have Paul and Martin back in the lineup. Paul had been practicing for about six days, but this was the first time that Martin had played against a live defense,” Eustachy said.

Rancik, meanwhile, made a surprise return to the lineup about midway through the second half.

He, too, showed rust but had three rebounds and two steals to go with two points. He also took some ribbing for airballing his first three-point attempt of the season.

“He had to get it out of his system. There were lots of giggles in the huddle, and now he can move on,” Eustachy said.

Fizer said it was nice to have Rancik back on the floor.

“He brought a lot of energy and enthusiasm to the game like usual. It was good to have him back. Now we can start getting back to full strength,” Fizer said.

The Cyclones now travel to Des Moines on Friday to face the Drake Bulldogs, which will be the first true test for an inexperienced backcourt.

“Jamaal Tinsley is really learning on the job. That’s the best way I can explain it,” Eustachy said.

Freshman Brandon Hawkins – who had nine rebounds, five points, and three assists – knows the competition will step up from here.

“Everybody is telling me this will be my first real test, and I don’t really know what to expect, but I’m really looking forward to it,” Hawkins said.