Upcoming Event: Men's Basketball at Creighton (Exhibition) on October 17, 2025 at 7:30 PM
7:30 PM
Men's Basketball
Creighton (Exhibition)
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Iowa State University Athletics
Saturday, December 30
Ames, Iowa
TBA
Iowa State University
91
vs
53
Western Carolina
Iowa State Men's Basketball Cruises Past Western Carolina, 91-53
12.30.2000 | Men's Basketball
AMES, Iowa (AP) - Forget the 38-point margin and the fact that Iowa State matched the best start in school history. Coach Larry Eustachy did not like what he saw.
No. 25 Iowa State handled Western Carolina 91-53 on Saturday, holding the Catamounts to 41.5 percent (22 of 53) shooting, forcing 21 turnovers and grabbing a 42-19 rebounding advantage.
The Cyclones led by as many as 14 points in the first half, but needed to score nine of the last 12 points of the half to take a 34-22 halftime lead. Ten first-half turnovers kept Iowa State from pulling away.
"I was really upset at halftime, but I didn't raise my voice," Eustachy said. "Why rant and rave and go nuts?"
Tyray Pearson and Paul Shirley each scored 14 points to lead Iowa State. Jake Sullivan added 13 points, and Jamaal Tinsley had 10 points and 14 assists for the Cyclones (11-1), who matched the 1994-95 team for the best start in school history.
Iowa State shot 61.8 percent (34 of 55) from the field, including 66.7 percent (22 of 33) in the second half.
"They wore us down with their physicality," Western Carolina coach Steve Shurina said. "It was tiring. You have to expend a lot of energy to get things done."
Iowa State blew open the game with a 22-7 run midway through the second half. During that run, the Cyclones scored on 11 of 12 possessions, including eight in a row, to open a 68-39 advantage.
Iowa State has one more game, against Illinois-Chicago on Tuesday, before opening the Big 12 season.
"We are not where we need to be. Good teams get better this time of year, but we've gone backward," Eustachy said.
"We're 11-1, but I'm not fooled by it," he said. "I'm not being negative, I'm being exact. We're not where we need to be at and I don't think it'll be there until February."
Players Mentioned
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