Iowa State Puts The Clamps On Missouri

Iowa State learned it would face Missouri without it’s star Lindell Wigginton before the game on Friday, and the Cyclones came out ready. The defensive effort carried Iowa State to a 76-59 victory over Missouri.

Iowa State forced Missouri into 15 first half turnovers that kept them in the game while they got their feet under them offensively. Iowa State shot 28% from the field early on in the game and was getting pretty much every look they wanted, but couldn’t convert. Missouri was clinging on to an advantage early on. Marial Skayok would sit most of the first half with three fouls forcing Steve Prohm to use most of the freshman together.

The freshman led my Tyrese Haliburton started to once again show why they were so highly touted. Haliburton and Zion Griffin would make a couple key plays down the stretch in the first half to spark a 9-0 run to end the first half and Iowa State went into the break with a 34-25 lead. Tyrese Haliburton and Nick Weiler-Babb led the cyclones in scoring with 8 points each at the half.

After a sluggish first game and first half of this one Talen Horton-Tucker was looking to get his game going. Horton-Tucker made a couple of key defensive stops and got a huge three point bucket right out of the break to grow the Cyclone lead 45-30 at the 15 minute mark in the second half.

Missouri wouldn’t go away quietly. The Tigers would start attacking Iowa State down low and they would cut the Iowa State lead down to 10. Iowa State then would force Missouri into foul trouble at the 10 minute mark giving Iowa State the double bonus opportunity the rest of the game.

One of the glaring impacts in the game was Iowa State’s defense. Forcing over 20 Missouri turnovers tonight and clamping down on shooters and making Missouri play out of whack the entire night. Defense certainly will need to be great while Iowa State waits for their missing players to return to the team.

The Cyclones would cruise the rest of the way and get a win that certainly will go a long ways for their season. Marial Shayok led the Cyclones with 20 points on the night, Michael Jacobson added 15 points to continue his strong play.

Iowa State will now face Texas Southern on Monday night at 7pm.