AMES, Iowa- Iowa State (8-7, 1-2 Big 12) got its first Big 12 win and looked good doing it. The Cyclones shot well (47.8 pct.), owned the glass (35-25, +10) and had an overall efficient group effort with 28 bench points in an 81-68 victory over Oklahoma (11-4, 2-1 Big 12) Saturday night in Hilton Coliseum.
Iowa State, which led by as many as 26 points early in the second half, rode the hot hand of Rasir Bolton. Bolton led all players with 23 points, tying a season high with 10 field goals made. Tyrese Haliburton buried three 3-pointers, scored 15 points and dished out a game-high eight assists. Haliburton has had at least five assists in all 14 games played this season.
The Cyclones had struggled from the perimeter during the season, but not tonight. ISU connected on 37.5 percent from downtown, making 12-of-32 shots from beyond arc. Freshman Tre Jackson contributed by draining a career-high four 3-pointers (4-of-5) en route to a career-high 12 points.
How It Happened
Oklahoma had a 14-10 lead until the Cyclones got a spark from Terrence Lewis from off the bench. Lewis scored eight of 10 points in a 10-0 Cyclone run. OU was held scoreless for nearly six minutes, as the Cyclones moved ahead 20-14 with 8:04 left before intermission.
Iowa State took a nine-point lead (30-21) after Jackson buried a corner 3-pointer and Bolton scored on a runner with 4:14 left in the opening period.
The Cyclones added on. Haliburton knocked down a trey followed by a Bolton layup. Haliburton then got the crowd ignited with a steal and a swished desperation 3-pointer at the horn to give the Cyclones a 42-25 lead at the break.
Bolton had 11 points and Lewis chipped in with 10 points in the first half.
The Cyclone lead grew to 26 points at the beginning of the second half, as Michael Jacobson, Haliburton and Bolton drained 3-pointers on three-straight possessions.
OU then took advantage of a Cyclone scoring dry spell, rattling off 10-straight points to close the gap to 55-39 with 14 minutes remaining in the game. Haliburton finally ended the drought with a runner in the paint.
The Sooners did trim the lead to 13 points, but a Jackson 3-pointer with 8:21 remaining in the game pushed the Cyclone advantage back up to 21 points (69-48).
The Sooners never threatened for the remainder of the game.
Players of Note
Terrence Lewis gave the Cyclones a much-needed boost from off the bench. Lewis tallied all 10 points in the opening stanza and scored eight points in a key 10-0 first-half run that erased a four-point deficit. Lewis was 3-of-6 from the field and grabbed four rebounds. It was his third double-digit scoring game in his last four outings.
Rasir Bolton had one of his best games as a Cyclone, scoring 23 points, his fourth 20-point outing of the season. Bolton was 10-of-17 from the field and connected on 3-of-8 shots from beyond the arc. He tied a season high with 10 field goals made.
Up Next
Iowa State travels to No. 4 Baylor on Wednesday. Tipoff is at 7 p.m.
