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Just like last year, Iowa State played the 11:30 AM game in the Sprint Center against an evenly matched team, and just like last year the Cyclones came out victorious after an up and down, back and forth game that saw both teams have a chance to win with a minute left. In the end, Shane Southwell's poor turnover in transition led to Kansas State needing to foul and Naz Long scored the final four points of the night en route to a 91-85 victory.
Iowa State got production from the oft maligned 2 hole and from Dustin Hogue in a game that saw the Cyclones score 91 points on 50% shooting and 44% from behind the arc. The Cyclones needed every bit of those 91 points though as Kansas State put up their second highest point total of the season on 54.5% shooting and 47% behind the arc.
Monte Morris continued his fantastic freshman campaign by chipping in 10 assists that went for 23 points to only one turnover. However, his five points, including an early three, helped open up the floor for his passing ability. Naz Long moved Iowa State to 9-0 when he scores 10 or more points by chipping in 14 on the score sheet, including 2-3 from behind the arc; the last of which came with 2:53 left that gave Iowa State a lead it would not relinquish the rest of the way. The rotation of Morris, Long, and Matt Thomas accounted for 19 points, 4 rebounds, and 12 assists.
Yet it might have been the play of Dustin Hogue that kept Iowa State going in this game as DeAndre Kane and Georges Niang struggled with fouls. Hogue was arguably the hardest working player on the floor down the stretch coming up with timely shots, a key steal, and almost every rebound on the defensive end. Hogue finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds on 6 of 8 shooting and 6 of 7 at the charity stripe.
Five Cyclones reached double figures and both Hogue and Ejim pulled down 10 boards a piece to give Iowa State a +9 edge on the boards. The game gave Ejim his 130th start, a new ISU record, and the win gave him the all-time wins record as a player, with 84.
With the win the Cyclones move to 24-7 on the year and will have another rubber match on Friday night. This time against the winner of an Embiid-less Kansas or hungry like a pack of wolves Oklahoma State. That game will start at 6:00 PM on the Big XII Network or ESPNU.