AMES – No. 3 Iowa State stormed from behind to grab an 89-80 win over Iowa on the road Thursday night. The Hawkeyes controlled all but the final five minutes.
Wins like these are important and prove that the Cyclones can go into hostile environments and win, even when things look dire.
The win moves Iowa State to 8-1 on the season with just two games left in non-conference play. Up first of those two games is the University of Nebraska Omaha.
The Mavericks have had a rough go through the first portion of their schedule. Omaha is now 4-8 after a 78-58 loss to Northern Iowa on Friday night.
Six of Omaha’s games have been decided by 10 points or less, and the Mavericks are 3-3 in those games. Omaha has played one Power Five opponent in Minnesota, which beat the Mavericks 68-64.
Last season, the Mavericks went 15-18 and played Big 12 opponents that included TCU and Texas Tech, both of which defeated Omaha.
2024 marks the ninth time that Omaha and Iowa State will face all-time. The Cyclones lead the series 6-2 and hold the most recent win, which came via an 82-55 win at Hilton Coliseum in 2018.
Of the eight, and soon-to-be nine games between the programs, only one has been played in Omaha. That was the first-ever meeting in the 1975-76 season, which Omaha won 84-73.
The Mavericks have a negative scoring margin, mainly due to the 4-8 record they present. Omaha scores an average of 70.5 points per game and gives up an average of 74.1 points per game.
When it comes to Iowa State, the Cyclones outpace the Mavericks with 87.9 points per game and allow opponents to only score 66.4 points per game.
Omaha has two players that average north of 10 points per game. The leading scorer is senior forward Marquel Sutton, who averages 17.2 points.
Standing at 6-foot 9-inches, Sutton will be matched up with 6-foot 11-inch Iowa State senior center Dishon Jackson.
The frontcourt for the Cyclones may have a big opportunity ahead of itself in terms of a height advantage. Jackson stands two inches taller than Sutton, and Iowa State forward Joshua Jefferson stands above Omaha forward Kamryn Thomas.
Jackson and Jefferson have become a strong unit inside as the season has gone on. Against Iowa, Jackson had 12 points in 18 minutes and shot 75% from the field.
Jefferson recorded his third straight double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds. In addition, he led the Cyclones in assists with seven.
The other player for Omaha who scores over 10 points per game is guard Tony Osburn at 11.8 points. Osburn has been on a roll recently, scoring in double figures in the past four games.
Iowa State will have to be on its A-game to slow down Sutton on the inside and Osburn outside. If the Cyclones can contain those two and force a few turnovers, which is what head coach T.J. Otzelberger’s defense is made to do, Iowa State should have no problems Sunday.
The Cyclones and Mavericks square off at noon Sunday from Hilton Coliseum. The game will be broadcast live on the CBS Sports Network.
