AMES, Iowa – Iowa State defeated Emporia State, 77-68 on Sunday evening, in its only exhibition game prior to opening the 2017-18 season. The Cyclones were led by senior guard Donovan Jackson’s 22 points.
How it happened…
The Cyclones closed the opening stanza on a 13-4 run over a three-minute span to take a 38-26 halftime lead. Jackson was unstoppable during the stretch, scoring all 13 Cyclone points, with three triples, as well as a jumper with two ticks left in the half, giving the native of Milwaukee, Wis., 15 points and three rebounds at the intermission. Iowa State forced 10 turnovers and held the Hornets to 2-of-11 (18.2 percent) shooting from beyond the arc in the first 20 minutes.
It was a second half of runs when the teams emerged from the locker room. The Cyclones opened the stanza strong with an early 9-0 spurt to extend the lead to 50-35, the largest of the game, with 12:13 to play. However, ESU responded with a 14-1 run of their own in under three minutes, cutting Iowa State’s advantage to 51-49. It was all ISU from that point forward, as Nick Weiler-Babb and Jackson answered with back-to-back buckets, including Jackson’s fourth triple of the game.
Iowa State which used just seven players in Sunday’s exhibition, got eight points in the last four minutes from freshman Lindell Wigginton to close out the win, 77-68.
Players of Note…
Jackson led the way with a game-high 20 points on an efficient 7-of-11 shooting effort, including 4-of-7 from beyond the 3-point line.
Freshman Lindell Wigginton was impressive in his first outing at Hilton Coliseum. He was second on the team with 18 points, while pulling down five rebounds and dishing three assists.
Weiler-Babb scored 12 points, to go with six rebounds and a team-high four assists.
Jakolby Long was the fourth Cyclone in double figures with 11 points and six rebounds.
Zoran Talley Jr. paced the Cyclones on the glass with eight rebounds, and also scored six points.
Emporia State was paced by Grant Shell’s 11 points.
Cyclone Quick Hits
*ISU improves to 50-4 in exhibition games dating back to 1983-84.
Next Up
Iowa State opens the regular season against Missouri in Columbia, Mo. next Friday. Tip off is slated for 8 p.m. on the SEC Network.
