The Cyclone’s matched up against Maryland Eastern Shore on Sunday, but it looked as if there were two games played. The difference between Iowa State’s performance in the first half and the second were night and day.

ISU came out in the first half and shot 37 percent from the field, and hit 50 percent from three point range. Most of the Cyclone misses came on easy shots and lay-ups. Fortunately for the Cyclones, UMES shot even worse with 36 percent from the field and 39 percent from three point land. One highlight from the first half was a half court shot by ISU guard Dedric Willoughby with time winding down on the shot clock.

It was the poor shooting of the Cyclones that had them down at the end of the first half 30-28.

In the second half ISU came out with guns blazing and added almost ten minutes of solid defense in which UMES managed three points.

The Cyclones shot 57 percent from the field in the second half and UMES shot 37 percent.

The Cyclone surge was led by the shooting of Willoughby and the tough play of Cyclone center Tony Rampton. Willoughby led all scorers with 23 points and eight rebounds and Rampton chipped in nine points and nine rebounds.

On the defensive side of the ball ISU forward Shawn Bankhead was strong with 13 points and five rebounds and forward Stevie Johnson added the same. Cyclone forward Klay Edwards came off the bench for some support. He had ten points and five rebounds.

ISU outscored UMES 54-32 in the second half, and went on to win the game by a score of 82-62.

Willoughby attributed the half time score to poor defense on the part of ISU. “We weren’t defending real well,” Willoughby said. “In the second half we put it all together and played 14 minutes of real hard defense.”

Willoughby was pleased but not surprised with the play of Rampton. “Tony is playing excellent,” Willoughby said. “What you see out there is what we see every day [in practice].”

Rampton plans to continue his work off the court to improve during games. “I was really frustrated because I missed a lot of lay-ups, and I am going to work on my free throws and my rebounding,” Rampton said.

Rampton has been given the nod at center in place of Kelvin Cato, due to a lack of practice time. Cyclone Head Coach Tim Floyd wants to work Cato in gradually depending on how he practices.

Bankhead expects Cato to be ready when the time comes. “Once Coach gives him the green light, I know for a fact he’ll be ready.”