Hilton displayed some of its “hocus pocus” as the Cyclones trounced the Siena Saints, 64-54, to take the crown at the Cyclone Challenge.

Throughout the game, Head Coach Tim Floyd was full of surprises. Floyd switched the entire lineup five minutes into the game, replacing starters Jacy Holloway, Brad Johnson, Shown Bankhead, Klay Edwards and Tony Rampton with Kelvin Cato, Stevie Johnson, Matt Knoll, Paul Shirley and DeAndre Harris.

The switch benefited the Cyclones, who went from leading by one point to a nine-point lead during the seven minutes the second string worked the floor. Floyd tried the switch again to a lesser extent in the second half with three positions.

In the end though, Floyd thought the substitutions did more harm than good.

“I think that I substituted a little bit too much in the second half. We let it get away from us. I think that we had a 23-point lead when we came in with the reinforcements with two and a half minutes to go, and Siena fought hard and competed and was able to narrow the gap,” Floyd said. “If we had probably substituted a minute earlier, I might be up here talking as a losing coach.”

Although the ‘Clones led 38-17 in the first half, Siena scored 37 points to Iowa State’s 26 in the second half.

Cato and Bankhead led Iowa State in scoring with 10 points each. Johnson was close behind with nine points, as was Shirley with eight. Dedric Willoughby sat out the game due to a hamstring injury sustained in practice.

Jacy Holloway set a personal record with his nine rebounds and led the team with his seven assists for the game.

“Jacy Holloway was a dominant rebounder tonight, at 5-10, 155, which is encouraging,” Floyd said. “Our guards have gone back to the boards all year long. Dedric and Jacy both have, and I think that has something to do with our increased rebounding numbers.

“[Jacy] is so geared in making those around him better. He understands the values, that part of his role,” Floyd said. “Jacy Holloway has always understood that point guards are measured by the amounts of wins that a team has. There is not one selfish bone in his body.”

Many wonder when Jacy is going to be more active in taking shots, after receiving the green light from Floyd.

“I might have been a little hesitant,” Holloway said. “There were a lot of shots that I should have taken.”

Cato, another standout, recorded six blocked shots which tied the school record. “He cures a lot of ills with our defense,” Floyd said. “He is helping us.”

Cato has been increasing his playing time after a three-game suspension and doesn’t feel that the suspension has hurt his playing ability.

“I don’t think that I lost my time, I mean, I practice everyday, and I block shots every day,” Cato said. “[Floyd] doesn’t think that I am working as hard as I possibly can in practice, and maybe some days I’m not … maybe because I thought I wasn’t going to get out on the floor when I was on suspension. But now that I know that he is going to give me an opportunity to get out on the floor, I am going to go out every day and work my hardest.”

Cato’s performance is appreciated by all the members of the team.

“I love it when Cato is behind me. I know that when Cato or Tony [Rampton] is behind me, and my man is driving, OK, go ahead in there, go ahead and get blocked, that’s my backup, but I can’t rely on that all the time,” Bankhead said. “But it is fun to know you have them back there, that you have those two shot blockers, and you that if your man beats you, that they try and do a lay up, that it is going to get blocked. I love it when [Cato] goes in there and I see it get sent back to half court.”

In the several substitutions made throughout the game, many players were given the chance to flaunt their abilities, and Floyd was able to evaluate his bench.

“We are getting very good play off of our bench right now. Brad Johnson — we are gaining tremendous confidence in him. I thought that Stevie Johnson was as relaxed as he’s been all year long. DeAndre Harris has played the best he’s played since he’s been here. Paul Shirley has been his same steady self,” Floyd said.

“If there is any positive that has come from this tournament, it’s the fact that we have been able to look at our bench.”

Floyd believes that the team is much deeper this year because of his experienced bench.

“The fact that we didn’t have a bench might have been a strength a year ago. Sometimes when the guys are playing 35 to 38 minutes a game, they get better,” Floyd said. “The longer they are on the floor, they play through mistakes and they play with more confidence.”