Iowa State Wins, Haliburton Goes Down

In a battle at the bottom of the big 12 Tyrese Haliburton’s health is the main story of this game. Iowa State played well, but this team’s success sits in the hands, or maybe the left wrist, of Tyrese Haliburton.

Iowa State got out to a 21-2 start, Solomon Young had 11 points early in the game. While most of us were busy watching Baylor v. Oklahoma State or Duke v. North Carolina, Iowa State got the ball rolling. Iowa State wouldn’t stay that hot the whole first half.

Cartier Diarra led the Wildcats late in the first half to close on a 14-0 run. Diarra was one point away from tying his career high in points ending with 24. DaJuan Gordon was the only other Wildcat who ended with double digits with 10 points on 3-10 shooting.

With about four minutes left in the first half, Tyrese Haliburton fell hard on his left wrist under the basket. Haliburton was very slow to get up before going straight back to the locker rooms.

Haliburton would come out with about a minute left of half time, and started the second half for the Cyclones. He essentially played one handed for the remained of his night heavily favoring his dominant right hand.

Haliburton called for a sub and would stay out the rest of the game. Without Haliburton, the Cyclones are 0-1 this year losing to Florida A&M on New Year’s Eve. Without Haliburton, this team does not have a true point guard. Rasir Bolton and Perentiss Nixon would take turns being the main ball carrier in Haliburton’s absence.

Terrence Lewis had another strong game off the bench, and he clearly looks like Iowa State’s best offensive bench player at the moment. He had 12 points. Iowa State did a good job of closing the game. Kansas State would get as close to a 4 point deficit before Iowa State pulled away.

There’s been no news on Tyrese Haliburton’s wrist at this time. Iowa State faces the Sooners in Norman this Wednesday. Oklahoma beat #14 ranked West Virginia earlier today.