AMES – Iowa State (2-0) used a 17-5 run in the first half to secure an 80-43 victory over the North Carolina A&T Aggies (1-2) on Sunday afternoon at Hilton Coliseum.
Aljaž Kunc was all over the place in the first half with 12 points and five rebounds in the first 20 minutes. On the defensive end, Iowa State held North Carolina A&T to 16 points in the first half while forcing 13 Aggie turnovers, the seventh-fewest points Iowa State has allowed in a half in program history.
Iowa State and North Carolina A&T would go back and forth for the first 14 minutes of second half action. In the final six minutes of play, Iowa State outscored the Aggies 17-3 to solidify the victory.
Defensively, Iowa State held North Carolina A&T to 25.6 percent shooting from the field and 20.8 percent from 3-point range. Iowa State has opened the season by holding back-to-back opponents to 50 points or less for the first time since 2010.
How it Happened
After a second-chance layup by Kunc to give the Cyclones a 4-2 lead, Iowa State never looked back. ISU capitalized off of 3-pointers from Gabe Kalscheur, Caleb Grill and Kunc to give the Cyclones a 17-5 advantage at the under-12 minute timeout. After a 7-2 run by the Aggies to bring them within eight, Iowa State closed out the first half on a 19-4 run, taking a 39-16 lead at halftime.
After 14 minutes of trading baskets, Iowa State outscored the Aggies 17-3 in the final six minutes to improve to 2-0 on the season.
Top Performance
Kunc recorded the first double-double of his career. Kunc finished with 17 points, 10 rebounds and four assists.
Iowa beat North Carolina A&T, 112-71, earlier this week.
Up Next
Iowa State will have a week off before it hosts the Milwaukee Panthers on Sunday, Nov. 20 at Hilton Coliseum at 5 p.m.
