AMES — After over a month watching from the bench, Hason Ward took the court at Hilton Coliseum for the first time since sustaining a foot injury in the second week of the season.
Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger said he was hopeful for Ward to be back in action by Big 12 play. Otzelberger got his wish, as Ward put up his best game of the season in Iowa State’s 85-70 win over New Hampshire.
Iowa State started the game hot, getting up 13-1 going into the first break. The hot start helped Ward see the court sooner than later.
Ward had to sit on the bench and watch his team play without him for nine games. All he could do was support them from afar.
“Being there for my brothers,” Ward said. “Pouring into the team as much as I can.”
With his foot healing up in the expected timeframe and Otzelberger believing in him, Ward made his return to the court. As he checked in, Hilton roared.
Early on, Ward’s presence was felt. Just minutes into his return, he looked to be back to his disruptive ways as he swatted a shot down to secure his first block of the game.
“It just feels great to be back out there,” Ward said. “Getting back to myself.”
Ward was also helping create opportunities for his teammates to succeed. He was a menace on the defensive end of the court while setting up screens and opening lanes for players like Keshon Gilbert and Tamin Lipsey to get into the paint.
On the defensive end, every Wildcat that got the ball had to shoot over Ward if they wanted a bucket. Along with the presence all over the court, Ward was even more airtight around the rim, snatching rebounds and looking for second-chance buckets whenever he could.
“You saw his impact right away at the rim,” Otzelberger said.
With just over 10 minutes gone in the first half, Ward was up to three blocks and three rebounds. He was all over in the paint and helped create offensive outbursts consistently.
“I’m pretty sure I got like two free rebounds, because he just blocked the shot right to me,” Lipsey said. “I appreciate that.”
Ward showed off how healthy he was late in the first half.
Lipsey showed off himself with a 360-midair layup attempt. However, with Lipsey spinning so much, the ball spun right out of the basket.
Ward was not going to let that spectacular shot fall short. He leapt up and tipped the ball back into the basket for another score.
“It’s been so long since he’s been on the court, I forgot about how much of an impact he is on both sides of the ball,” Lipsey said.
One thing was clear early on, Ward brought energy every time he touched the court.
After the final media timeout of the first half, Ward checked back in. On the first possession for Iowa State, Ward caught a pass in the paint and floated a shot into the basket. Although it was not one of his signature dunks, he still put more points on the board for the Cyclones.
“As he gets his legs underneath him more, I think even some of those floaters and things around the basket will be dunks, lobs that we can go upstairs,” Otzelberger said.
Ward was trying to get some dunks and connect with lob passes, but the timing was not there. After a month off, there was still some rust to be shaken off.
Ward did get a couple opportunities at getting putback dunks, but the rim was not his friend.
At the end of the first half and the start of the second, the Wildcats and the Cyclones traded scoring runs. Iowa State was coming off a 10-0 run when Ward checked back in for the first time of the second half.
With New Hampshire settling down Iowa State’s offense, Ward looked to change that. Gilbert tried to pass it into the lane early in the second half, but the ball was tipped.
Ward jumped up and snagged the ball out of a defender’s hands. He then took the ball to the rim and slammed it home.
Hilton exploded as Ward continued to bring the energy in his return.
“Everything that he does is with a lot of intensity,” Lipsey said. “That helps our defense and brings us even more energy.”
With less than 10 minutes left in the game, Gilbert hit the ground hard and went to the line. He sank the first free throw.
Still shaken up, Gilbert’s second free throw fell short. However, Ward made his presence felt by grabbing the rebound and getting the putback layup.
Shortly after, Ward used his long arms to snatch a ball out of the lane. The steal opened up the offense again for the Cyclones.
“He’s very disruptive,” Otzelberger said. “So, it’s not just the shot blocking, it’s… using his length to disrupt the pass or get a steal. All those things are valuable.”
Although Ward only played 17 minutes, his return could not have been any better. He finished the game with 10 points, six rebounds and three blocks.
Ward looked to be back to his old self, and the Cyclones got back a key player they needed as the curtain closed on the non-conference season. Now Ward’s health will be even more crucial on the next stage.
But for now, Ward is just happy to be back in action.
“It just feels great to be back,” Ward said.
