Willoughby lights up Hilton in home opener

Bill Kopatich

Fred who? For 40 minutes on the Hilton hardcourt Dedric Willoughby made Cyclone fans forget the man known around Ames as “the Mayor.”

Willoughby, a junior swingman, made baskets from nearly every spot on the floor and sank all 12 of his free throws. His game-high 33 points led Iowa State to a 93-49 exhibition game romp over a team representing the Republic of Georgia.

If Willoughby keeps this up, people are going to start calling him Mr. Inside and Mr. Outside. Willoughby scored in nearly every possible combination a basketball player can.

He even converted a rare four-point play. With 4:33 remaining in the game, Willoughby drained a three-point basket outside the right corner of the three-point arc in the process of being fouled. He got nothing but net on the subsequent free throw attempt, as the Cyclones built a 86-47 advantage.

“I was glad that Dedric shot the ball like he has shot it all practice long,” Iowa State head coach Tim Floyd said. “I think people are going to really enjoy watching him.”

The team from Georgia dominated the early parts of the game, racing out to a 5-0 lead. ISU did not score until nearly three minutes went by in the game on a twisting lay-up by Willoughby. Georgia took a 12-6 lead on a Zurab Chubinidze three-pointer with 13:49 to go in the first half.

This is when Willoughby decided to take over the game. He scored the next seven points of the game as the Cyclones took their first lead at 13-12.

Floyd was not entirely happy about all aspects of his team’s play.

The Cyclones shot only 33 percent from the floor in the first half. Turnovers and rebounding were other concerns for the coach.

“I thought we came out and played like a bunch of new guys early,” Floyd said.