No. 24 Iowa State’s defense failed to keep up with No. 20 BYU’s sharp shooting from outside, and with the Cyclones’ aggressive offense also having an off night, they dropped their second Big 12 game on the road 87-72.
Iowa State headed into Provo, Utah, as a new member of the AP top-25 and in search of its first win on the road in the Big 12. The Cyclones’ usual lockdown defense did not travel with them as they allowed a season-high in points and failed to defend shots from the outside.
Throughout the game, Iowa State tried to slow down BYU’s offensive surge and create a run of its own but could never put together a consistent offense, resulting in a second loss in Big 12 play.
Outpaced in the opening half
While Iowa State came out as the aggressor following the opening tip, BYU used the Cyclones’ aggressiveness against them.
Iowa State turned the ball over more than they typically do to start out games. Whether it was a bad pass or not getting a hand on loose balls, the Cyclones gave BYU more opportunities to control the game.
With those extra opportunities, the Cougars executed. They finished the first half with 10 points off of Iowa State’s eight turnovers throughout the first 20 minutes, which furthered BYU’s ability to control the pace.
BYU got buckets on in-rhythm shots and lived on Iowa State’s offensive mistakes to stay in the game, and ultimately had a 39-34 lead over the Cyclones at halftime.
The 3-pointers Iowa State allowed from the Cougars were a mix of hot potato basketball and finding holes in the Cyclones’ zone defense, which often left the corners and wings open. At the end of the first half, the Cyclones allowed seven BYU triples, which ultimately was the reason Iowa State was playing from behind.
The culprit on three of the Cougars’ makes from outside was Spencer Johnson, whom Iowa State could not seem to figure out how to guard. Johnson ended the first half as the game’s leading scorer with 19 points.
The Cyclones had plenty of chances to build off of the small leads they had at moments in the first half, but their mistakes were too much to overcome.
Cyclones fail to spark a comeback
As the Cyclones looked for a jolt in the second half, they failed to get off to a hot start out of the break. Iowa State started the second half 1-for-7 from the field and allowed the Cougars to climb out to a 49-39 lead after the first four minutes.
Even with the Cyclones knocking down shots inside here and there, BYU rode with a big lead and made up for every bucket allowed. Iowa State failed to score from outside the paint and missed on multiple jumpers and floaters.
BYU at one point climbed out to an 18-point lead with eight minutes remaining in the second half, and Iowa State entered desperation mode.
Even with attacking the basket more and taking their threes when they could, the Cyclones still could not piece the offense together enough to go on a run.
The Cyclones finished the game going 4-for-14 from outside, going 1-for-9 from 3-point land and shooting 35.5% from the field in the second half.
BYU kept its hot shooting from outside going all throughout the second half. The Cougars added six more threes in the second half and finished the game with 13 3-pointers and shot 47% from the field. The Cougars had five players finish with double-digit points, with Johnson leading the way with 28.
Foul trouble capped off by Ward’s ejection
In the second half, the game started to become physical between both teams on every level. Both Tre King and Curtis Jones picked up their fourth fouls in the second half, which played into the Cyclones’ issue of putting BYU at the line.
Unfortunately for the Cyclones, one player took his aggressive play too far.
After a blocking foul under the basket by Demarion Watson which sent a Cougar to the line, Hason Ward checked his shoulder into the neck of another BYU player when the two teams lined up for the final free throw. After a review by the officials, Ward was given a flagrant two and ejected from the game.
Not only were the Cyclones already dealing with foul trouble to begin with, but they were now down a player that offers them significant help above the rim and, more importantly, in the rebound battle that they had been losing.
Iowa State finished the game with 17 fouls and saw BYU make 20 of its 24 free throw attempts, while the Cyclones shot 16-for-25 from the line.
