The Lowdown

The hype surrounding Jameel McKay’s first game as a Cyclone was set up for disappointment, but in just 13 minutes, the 6-foot-9-inch transfer put up eight points, five rebounds and one assist in Iowa State’s 83-54 win over the Drake Bulldogs.

Naz Long led the team with 13 points, followed by Monte Morris’ 12 points. Matt Thomas and Dustin Hogue finishing with 10 points each. Bryce Dejean-Jones finished with six points, five rebounds, five assists and four steals in 21 minutes of action.

The ISU defense held the Bulldogs to 54 points, a team best this season in a slow-paced game. With 12 players seeing action, no player saw the floor longer than 25 minutes, as the Cyclones cruised to a victory.

The Turning Point

Almost halfway through the first half, the Cyclones held only a 14-12 lead. Monte Morris took matters into his own hands, scoring five points in back-to-back possessions during a 17-4 run to pull away from the Bulldogs.

Morris finished with a team-high seven points and three assists in the first half, often single-handedly controlling the game.

X-Factor

Monte Morris — The Bob Cousy Award candidate had a workmanlike performance, scoring 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting from the field and dishing out four assists in 24 minutes of action.

By the Numbers

7 — Iowa State shot 50 percent or better from the field in its seventh game this season

12 — Players who saw the court for Iowa State

18 — Forced turnovers by the Cyclones

25 — Assists on 32 made baskets

100 — Georgios Tsalmpouris’ 3-point percentage this season (2-for-2)