Despite opening the game 1-of-10 from the field and shooting 3-of-10 at the free throw line in the second half, the No. 5 Cyclones – who led by as much as 24 (62-38 with 12:04 remaining in the game) – cruised to an 18 point victory, 74-56, over No. 9 Kansas on Saturday at Hilton Coliseum. Iowa State’s (22-3, 9-3 Big 12) defense was stifling, holding the Jayhawks (19-6, 9-3 Big 12) and their eight game win streak to zero points over the final 4:22.
Kansas built an early 6-2 lead before Iowa State used an 9-0 run to turn the deficit into a 11-6 advantage. The Jayhawks saw their four point lead evaporate over 57 seconds as a traditional three-point play by Joshua Jefferson shrunk the visitor’s margin to one at 20-19. The Cyclones led for good following a driving layup by Jamarion Batemon at the 5:44 mark of the first half. A three-pointer by Batemon started a 14-5 rally to end the half, though, as Iowa State built a 37-27 cushion.
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Milan Momcilovic, 0-of-4 from deep in the first half, opened the second half with back-to-back shots from beyond the arc. Tamin Lipsey added a pair of his own,
Momcilovic added his third of the day (4-of-5 in the second half) and Batemon contributed one as the Cyclones increased their advantage to 55-34 with 15:33 remaining. The Jayhawks made it a 12-point game, 68-56, with 4:22 remaining, the closest it got for the remainder of the contest. Iowa State closed the game on a 6-0 run.
Momcilovic led five Cyclones in double-figures with 18 points. Four Cyclones finished with fish sticks in the scoring department (11 points): Lipsey, Jefferson, Blake Buchanan and Batemon. Lipsey and Jefferson distributed four assists. Iowa State shot a combined 43.5 percent (27-of-62) from the field and 9-for-17 (52.9 percent) at the free throw line.
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Both teams pulled down 34 rebounds, Buchanan led the way for the Cyclones with six rebounds and Flory Bidunga pulled down 13 for the Jayhawks.
Melvin Council Jr. logged a game-high 15 points for Kansas. Darryn Peterson chipped in 10 points. Kansas shot 37.3 percent (19-of-51) from the floor.
On Monday, the Iowa State hosts No. 3 Houston (22-2, 10-1 Big 12) for Big Monday, tip is scheduled for 8 p.m.
