Balanced Attack Leads Cyclones Past Mercer

Friday, November 28

Ames, Iowa

TBA

Iowa State

1-0

Mercer

1-4

Team	1	2	F
Mercer	26	38	64
Iowa State	41	46	87

Balanced Attack Leads Cyclones Past Mercer

11.28.2003 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

By: Iowa State University

AMES, Iowa - Freshman Curtis Stinson scored 20 points in his first college game and Jake Sullivan became Iowa State's career leader in 3-pointers in an 87-64 victory over Mercer on Friday night.

Jared Homan and Marcus Jefferson each had 16 points for the Cyclones and Sullivan finished with 14 to give coach Wayne Morgan a victory in his debut. Morgan took over for Larry Eustachy, who was forced out last May after it was reported that he had partied with college students on Big 12 road trips.

The Cyclones made it easy for their new coach, scoring the game's first eight points and leading all the way. Iowa State made 13 steals in forcing 24 turnovers and held Mercer (1-4) to 30 percent shooting in the first half.

Sullivan, a senior, went 4-for-7 from 3-point range to run his career total to 192. He passed Dedric Willoughby, who made 190 3s from 1995-97.

Scott Emerson led Mercer with 16 points and 13 rebounds. Wesley Duke added 13 points.

Stinson had been expected to give Iowa State a lift in the backcourt and he came through in a big way, making 9-of-14 shots and adding six rebounds, five assists and three steals. The Cyclones' other freshman guard, Will Blalock, contributed six points and a team-leading seven assists.

Mercer was close only once, drawing to 11-9 when Duke scored six straight points on two dunks and a jumper. Iowa State responded with a 22-8 run that Sullivan finished with back-to-back 3-pointers, the second one breaking Willoughby's record with six minutes left in the half.

Iowa State lead 41-26 halftime, then started the second half with a 19-7 run to end any doubt about the outcome.