AMES – A run in the NCAA Tournament by the Iowa State men’s basketball team will have to start Friday against North Carolina Central.
Iowa State (26-7, 11-7) will face North Carolina Central (28-5, 15-1 MEAC) Friday in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The game will tip at approximately 8:50 p.m. (CT) with TNT televising the Cyclones’ 16th NCAA Tournament appearance.
The game is being played in San Antonio, Texas.
Iowa State is a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament after winning its second Big 12 Championship title. The Cyclones are making their 16th NCAA Tournament appearance and third-straight under head coach Fred Hoiberg. It is just the second time in school history that ISU has made three tournaments in a row (95-97).
ISU’s No. 9 ranking in the Associated Press poll is its highest since March 9, 2001.
Hoiberg has 88 career wins, which makes him the winningest coach in the first four seasons at ISU (Larry Eustachy, 84).
The Cyclones have won their first game in seven of their last eight NCAA Tournament appearances.
Iowa State defeated Notre Dame in the second round of the 2013 NCAA Tournament, 76-58. Georges Niang led all scorers with 19 points and Melvin Ejim added 17. Iowa State lost to Ohio State, 78-75 in the third round on a buzzer-beater three by Aaron Craft. Ejim scored 10 points and grabbed 11 boards in the loss.
If ISU beats North Carolina Central, they would play the winner of the North Carolina versus Providence game.
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