Courtesy: cyclones.com –
NORMAN, Okla – The Iowa State men’s basketball team (19-10 overall, 9-7 Big 12) fell to Oklahoma (19-9 overall, 10-6 Big 12) on Saturday, 86-69. The Cyclones got 22 points on 6 of 9 shooting from beyond the arc from sixth-man Tyrus McGee, but could not overcome an efficient offensive performance from the Sooners.
The Cyclones were forced to weather a hot shooting start from Oklahoma, and an exceptional first half from Sooner guard Sam Grooms. Grooms had 13 first-half points and four assists while hitting 6 of 8 shots from the field. Melvin Ejim led Iowa State with eight first-half points, but the Cyclones shot just 35 percent from the field in the opening period, including 4 of 16 from three point range. Iowa State trailed 40-28 heading into the halftime intermission.
Freshman Georges Niang hit a trey coming out of the locker room to cut the Sooner lead to nine. However, Oklahoma would respond with an 11-0 run to take a commanding 51-31 lead.
The Cyclones mounted several comeback attempts behind the hot hand of McGee, but Oklahoma responded each time, helped by a 34 of 34 performance from the free throw line.
McGee’s 22 points tied a career high and was joined in double figures by three other Cyclones. Bubu Palo had his best offensive performance of the season with 12 points, followed by 10 each for Ejim and Niang. Romero Osby scored a team-high 22 points for the Sooners to go with nine rebounds. Grooms finished with 19 points and six assists for Oklahoma.
The Cyclones will be back in action on Wednesday at 6 p.m. CST in Hilton Coliseum to take on Oklahoma State.
