Clinging to a 67-65 lead with less than 10 seconds remaining, Oklahoma’s Ryan Spangler had a wide-open look under the basket to send the game into overtime. However, he mishandled the lay-up attempt, and No. 13 Iowa State (24-8 overall, 12-6 Big 12) survived with a 67-65 victory over No. 15 Oklahoma (22-10 overall, 12-6 Big 12) Friday night at the Sprint Center.
The victory sends the Cyclones into a postseason conference tournament final in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1995 and 1996, as ISU will face No. 9 Kansas tomorrow night at 5 p.m. CT on ESPN.
Four Cyclones scored in double figures in yet another come-from-behind victory. ISU found themselves down by double digits (11-point deficit in the first half) for fourth-straight game, all Cyclone victories.
Georges Niang led the way with 13 points, while Jameel McKay added 12 points and nine boards to give ISU its eighth victory over a top-25 opponent this season.
Another poor start plagued the Cyclones. ISU began the game mired in a shooting slump, making just 2-of-13 shots from the field and 0-of-7 from 3-point range in the first nine minutes of the contest. Meanwhile, the Sooners were 5-of-11 from downtown to take a 17-6 lead.
Abdel Nader gave ISU a spark from off the bench, scoring seven points in a 9-4 Cyclone run to cut the Sooner lead to 25-19 with 5:34 left in the first half.
OU still held an eight-point lead until the Cyclones mounted one of their patented scoring bursts. ISU tallied 10-straight points in just over two minutes to take the lead at 29-27 with 0:56 seconds remaining before intermission. Bryce Dejean-Jones buried ISU’s first 3-pointer of the game (the Cyclones missed their first nine attempts from long range) and then Naz Long hit a three and then converted a steal into a lay-up to put the Cyclones ahead for the first time.
A 9-0 run by ISU early in the second half gave the Cyclones a 40-33 lead. McKay scored down low for two baskets and Dustin Hogue nailed a corner trey in the run.
ISU led by as many as eight points on a number of occasions in a six-minute stretch, but the Sooners closed the gap to 50-47 on a Buddy Hield 3-pointer with 10:42 remaining. Hield then tied the game at 52-52 with a lay-up at the 8:26 mark.
ISU went three minutes without a point to allow the Sooners to retake the lead at 58-54 with 5:39 remaining.
However, ISU then answered with eight-straight points behind a pair of treys from Long and Monte’ Morris to put ISU back in the lead at 62-58 with 4:18 left.
After Spangler answered a Niang fadeaway, the Cyclones led 66-63 with 1:32 remaining. ISU had a couple of chances to score on its next possession, but couldn’t convert, allowing OU to cut the ISU lead to 66-65 on a TaShawn Thomas putback with 12 seconds left.
Niang was then fouled where he made 1-of-2 free throws, allowing OU one last chance. Spangler had a wide open look at the hoop, but misfired.
Jameel McKay came up big in the victory, tallying 12 points and nine rebounds. He also had two blocks and made 6-of-9 shots from the field. After Spangler missed the final shot, it was McKay who swatted the ball away to keep OU from getting a second chance.
