Iowa State led by 21 points with eight minutes left in the game, but the Longhorns cut the lead to three points with under 0:30 seconds remaining. ISU connected on only 25-of-38 free-throws in the game, but it was just enough to hang on for its 18th-straight victory at home.
Georges Niang was one of five Cyclones in double figure scoring, leading the way with 19 points. Bryce Dejean-Jones added 18 points and Monte’ Morris had 13 points and six dimes.
ISU shot 54.7 percent from the field en route to its 11th game this season making more than half of its shots from the floor. UT was 0-of-7 from 3-point range in the first half, but made 10-of-15 shots from downtown after intermission to get back into the game.
How it happened…
After Iowa State jumped out to an early 10-2 lead, the Longhorns came back to tie the game at 14-14 with 11:55 left in the opening period.
The Cyclones started to get separation beginning with a 3-pointer from Bryce Dejean-Jones. It was still a two-point game (20-18) with under eight minutes left until the Cyclones went on a 16-7 run to close the half.
Long and Georges Niang both hit treys and Jameel McKay had a pair of dunks behind a couple of perfect lob passes from Niang in the middle of the zone.
ISU shot 53.3 percent from the field while leading at the break, 36-25.
The Cyclones continued to stay hot in the second half, increasing their lead to 51-33 with 15:53 left in the game. Niang started the half with a triple and the Cyclones kept pushing the ball to get easy looks.
ISU posted its biggest lead at 60-39 at the 11:33 mark when Monte’ Morris found a hustling McKay, who beat the Longhorns down the court for the easy lay-in.
UT did not give up, as the Cyclones allowed the Longhorns to get back into the game. A 75-59 ISU lead with 5:42 left quickly became 79-73 advantage with 2:04 remaining. Isaiah Taylor, Javon Felix and Connor Lammert all hit 3-pointers in a 14-4 UT run to all of a sudden make it a two possession game.
Jonathan Holmes then closed the gap to 87-84 with 0:21 seconds left on a 3-pointer from the corner. Niang and McKay each made a free-throw down the stretch, as the Cyclones held on 89-86.
The #cyclONEgameball goes to…
Georges Niang. The junior All-America candidate came to play, registering a team-high 19 points on 7-of-13 shooting from the field. Niang controlled the game with his shooting and passing. He got in the middle of the UT zone to score and dish to his teammates. He had three dimes and was 3-of-4 from 3-point range in the win.
Next Up
The Cyclones play host to TCU on Saturday (Jan. 31). Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. CT on ESPNU.
