100 Things Cyclone Fans Should Forget Before They Die: Iowa State Exhibition Losses

The following is the original recap via Cyclones.com.

Poor shooting halted any hopes for Iowa State to win its first exhibition game of the season, falling to EA Sports, 64-57 Saturday night in Hilton Coliseum. The Cyclones shot a dismal 27.4 percent from the field, including a 9-for-35 effort (25.7 percent) in the second half, as ISU dropped just its third exhibition game in school history.

ISU Athletics Communications

”I thought we tried hard tonight, but we couldn’t make a basket.” ISU head coach Wayne Morgan said. “I thought our defense was good. We forced 25 turnovers, but it doesn’t matter when you shoot it that poorly. I don’t think we will have many nights when we shoot 27 percent. If that is what it takes for us to get it out of the way, then I am glad it is done.”

The Cyclones got down early in the first half, trailing by as many as nine points (24-15) with 5:31 remaining. ISU then went on a 17-6 run to take a brief 32-30 lead, thanks to 13 points from Will Blalock during the run. Blalock led the Cyclones with 21 points in the game.

ISU Athletics Communications

ISU could not get the lid off the basket in the second half, however, connecting on just one of its last 11 shots from the field, as EA Sports forged ahead for good after the game was deadlocked at 53-53. The Cyclones weren’t any better from the foul line, hitting 52.2 percent from the charity stripe (52.2 percent).

Rahshon Clark and Curtis Stinson each had 11 points, but were a combined 8-for-30 from the floor. Clark led all players with 13 rebounds. Anthony Richardson led EA Sports with 14 points, followed by 11 points from Michael Joiner.

The Cyclones fall to 33-3 all-time in exhibition games. ISU opened the 1994-95 season with a 95-85 loss to Marathon Oil and the 1997-98 squad fell to World Basketball Opportunities, 83-78.

Below are excerpts from a Des Moines Register article via. Rick Brown on Wednesday, November 16, 1994.

lowan Jason Reese finally gets a victory against Iowa State, as Marathon Oil spoils Tim Floyd’s Hilton Coliseum debut. Jason Reese flushed away years of frustration Tuesday night in Hilton Coliseum. shots including all six three-point attempts. Michalik added 22 points.

The loss snapped a streak of 16 consecutive exhibition game victories dating to the 1983-84 season. Marathon Oil, which has beaten Kansas State and lost to Arizona State on this tour, got 24 points from guard Derek Rucker. Kevin Lynch had 16.

A crowd of 11,765, which included retired Cyclone coach Johnny Orr, sat stunned as Marathon Oil took leads as large as 19 points in the first half.

Iowa State led, 78-75, with 3 minutes to play, but missed its next seven shots and Marathon Oil ran off 12 points for the victory. “The bottom fell out of our defense, and we took quick shots on offense,” Hoiberg said.

“That’s no way to keep your momentum going.” Floyd patience was tested. He whipped his suitcoat off after a turnover just 34 minutes into the game and hollered,

Things got worse before they got better. Six Iowa State turnovers contributed to a 16-3 run that gave Marathon Oil a 37-18 lead with 5 minutes 4 seconds remaining in the first half. But the Cyclones rebounded with a 22-7 run to close within 44-40 at halftime.

James Hamilton, who finished with 14 points, played an instrumental role in the comeback. He made six free throws, scored a basket, blocked a shot and hit Michalik with a pass that led to Iowa State’s last basket.

Iowa State took its first lead, 75-73, on a baseline jumper by Derrick Hayes with 4:22 to play. But the Cyclones wilted down the stretch.

“Oh man, it’s great,” said Reese (former East High School and Northern Iowa standout), who scored 20 points to help Marathon Oil defeat Iowa State, 95-85, in an exhibition game Tuesday at Hilton Coliseum. He was on the losing end of four games against the Cyclones as a collegian. He just returned from Australia, where he plays professionally. “I guess there’s a first time for everything.”

Marathon Oil shot 52.4 percent from the floor and out-rebounded Iowa State, 42-32. The Cyclones were without center Loren Meyer, who was suspended for an incident in an Ames summer-league game.

But excuses weren’t high on Floyd’s list after the game. “I don’t want this to be a coulda, woulda, shoulda team,” Floyd said. “The bottom line is we’re very poor defensively. And we’re a very poor rebounding team. Technically, we were as bad offensively as we were defensively.”

“Our defense has holes like Swiss cheese,” Julius Michalik said.

Box Score:

Rebounds Marathon Oil 42 (Beaudreaux 10). Iowa State 32 (Hamilton. Hoiberg 6).

Assists Marathon Oil 19 (Rucker 12), Iowa State 17 (Kimbrough, Hamilton, Hoiberg 4).

Fouls Marathon Oil 15. Iowa State 23. (Fouled out: Hamilton - ISU)

Jared’s note: While losing this game wasn’t ideal, I noticed a headline about the Cyclones landing a recruit that considered going to UNLV before coming to Iowa State. His name? Kenny Pratt.