Naz Mitrou-Long knew he was on the brink of a breakout game after a 1-for-7 3-point shooting night against Chicago State last week.

Mitrou-Long told reporters on Thursday that he could feel it coming. He called his shot and delivered Monday night as the senior poured in a game-high 24 points on 6-for-9 shooting from downtown en route to an 83-63 ISU win against Chattanooga.

“These guys were finding me and it felt really good. It was going in the hoop, so today was the day,” Mitrou-Long said.

Mitrou-Long predicted his breakout game last Thursday, but also said his stroke felt good Sunday night as he was able to get a few extra shots up. Mitrou-Long continues to recover from offseason hip surgeries, and he has slowly been able to increase his gym time — his health closing in on 100 percent.

“My shot’s really been coming together,” Mitrou-Long said. “I’ve been able to get in the gym a little bit more, and it just feels really good right now.”

Mitrou-Long’s health still isn’t quite there, but he shied from putting a numerical value on his progress. Judging from his performance, however, he can’t be too far away from fully healthy.

Georges Niang said Mitrou-Long hasn’t made any excuses as he works toward his recovery.

“He wants to be the best he can be, and I think that’s why he’s so hard on himself,” Niang said. “You guys see 6-for-9, but he thinks he should have been 9-for-9, because the work that he puts in is like no other. The guy is in the gym three, four times a day.

“He’s just a gym rat.”

Mitrou-Long didn’t completely steal the show Monday night. Iowa State displayed ball movement reminiscent of the Hoiberg era, repeatedly finding the open man in scoring positions. The Cyclones assisted on 21 of their 33 made shots.

Monté Morris led the way, registering a double-double with 14 points and 10 assists. Mitrou-Long wasn’t the only Cyclone hitting from downtown, either. Niang hit three 3-pointers and Hallice Cooke and Matt Thomas both cashed in on a pair of long balls for the Cyclones.

“The ball moved tonight, and it was fun,” said ISU coach Steve Prohm. “Those guys are fun to watch when the ball is moving.”

The ball was moving offensively, but McKay was an anchor on the defensive end and on the boards, allowing Iowa State to spend so much time on the offensive end.

The big man only scored eight points, but registered a career-high 17 rebounds in the winning effort.

“Phenomenal,” Prohm said of McKay’s rebounding. “I was trying to cheer him on to 20 rebounds, but 17 rebounds — that’s high level.”

Iowa State will be on a tight schedule going forward, as the team has just a few days before heading to Florida for a pair of games over the weekend as a part of the Emerald Classic.