Cyclones crush Omaha in balanced effort

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AMES − That’s one way to complete your last homework assignment before final exams tip off.

Iowa State men’s basketball started slow and sloppy, but once the Cyclones got going, they thrashed the visiting Omaha Mavericks on Sunday afternoon, 83-51.

Iowa State led by as many as 33 points late in the second half. The Cyclones hardly looked back after a 20-2 run to close out the first half.

“What you saw at the end of the first half, the last seven minutes and 40 seconds − whatever it was − the things that are the characteristics that we’re demanding of is defensively pressuring the ball and creating defensive disruptions so that leads to our offense,” coach T.J. Otzelberger said. “Part of that is offensive rebounding and finishing plays, and then on the offensive side, having tremendous focus and ball toughness.

“Starting the game, we were very careless with the basketball. It’s uncharacteristic of us, but not acceptable, and defensively it felt like we were a step slow and those are things that are going to leave things to chance. When we’re at our best, it’s getting after people, getting up and down the court, making plays for one another and then cleaning up on the glass.”

Omaha was unable to match Iowa State’s firepower on both ends of the court for all 40 minutes.

The Cyclones had five scorers finish in double figures. Keshon Gilbert led the balanced effort with 16 points on 6-of-9 shooting, with three rebounds, four assists, a block and a steal. Milan Momcilovic chipped in 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting, with five rebounds and two steals. Joshua Jefferson added 13 points and eight rebounds. Tamin Lipsey finished with 11 points, while Nate Heise came off the bench and had 10 points, five rebounds and a steal.

“We got a team this year that everyone can score the ball,” Momcilovic said. “I think you can see a lot of games where we’re gonna have five, six guys in double digits. That’s just how we play. Get everyone involved, and I think we played decent offensively today….

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Source link : https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/sports/college/iowa-state/basketball-mens/2024/12/15/iowa-state-basketball-cyclones-omaha-mavericks-game-recap-final-score/77003426007/

Author : The Des Moines Register

Publish date : 2024-12-15 19:59:00

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