McDermott Era Opens With Win Over UCR

AMES, Iowa?Iowa State's Mike Taylor scored 22 points to help head coach Greg McDermott win his Cyclone coaching debut, 69-61 over UC Riverside in the first round of the American Family Insurance BTI Cyclone Challenge Friday night in Hilton Coliseum.

Iowa State opened up an early 13-3 lead, making 5-of-its-first-6 shots from the floor and forcing six turnovers. Taylor, playing in his first game this season, connected on three field goals and Cory Johnson added a pair in ISU's quick start.

UCR fought back late in the opening stanza, going on a 14-4 run to tie the game at 28-28. The Cyclones got a little sloppy, turning the ball over 12 times in the first half to help the Highlanders creep to a 33-30 halftime lead.

ISU regained the lead by going on a 15-6 run at the beginning of the second half. Taylor was once again instrumental, hitting a trey and adding two free-throws, as ISU was in the bonus with 14 minutes left in the game. The Cyclones mounted a 51-41 advantage with 9:23 left after two-straight buckets by true freshman Wesley Johnson. Johnson, who is the fifth consecutive Cyclone rookie to start a season opener, scored nine of his 10 points after intermission.

Iowa State recorded seven steals and forced 23 turnovers. Including its two exhibition wins, ISU has forced a total of 65 turnovers in three games (21.6 tpg). B.J. Visman led UCR with 17 points and nine rebounds. Rahshon Clark added nine points and nine rebounds in the winning cause.

ISU plays tomorrow night in the second round of the Cyclone Challenge against Louisiana-Monroe, who defeated Eastern Illinois, 70-60 in the first game.

Notes

- Iowa State is now 80-20 in season openers...the Cyclones have won nine-straight season openers (last loss, 54-48, Northern Iowa, Nov. 23, 1997).

- Iowa State head coach Greg McDermott won his first game as the Cyclone coach...ISU head coaches are now 15-3 all-time in their debuts...it is the first victory for McDermott in Hilton Coliseum...he was 0-2 as a player and 0-3 as a coach.

- Rahshon Clark tallied a team-high nine rebounds.

- ISU is averaging 21.6 turnovers forced per game in its three games this season (including exhibition).

- Clark recorded one block, moving into a tie for 16^th on ISU's career block chart with 53.

-Wesley Johnson started in his freshman season opener, the fifth consecutive season where ISU has started a true freshman in the season opener.

2005- Ross Marsden

2004- Rahshon Clark

2003- Curtis Stinson

2003- Will Blalock

2002- Adam Haluska

McDermott Era Opens With Win Over UCR

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Team Stats

Mike Taylor

Wesley Johnson

Corey McIntosh

Rahshon Clark

Players Mentioned

Will Blalock

Rahshon Clark

Rahshon Clark

Cory Johnson

Wesley Johnson

Ross Marsden

Ross Marsden

Curtis Stinson

Mike Taylor

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McDermott Era Opens With Win Over UCR

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Team Stats

Game Leaders

Mike Taylor

Wesley Johnson

Corey McIntosh

Rahshon Clark

Players Mentioned

Will Blalock

Rahshon Clark

Rahshon Clark

Cory Johnson

Wesley Johnson

Ross Marsden

Ross Marsden

Curtis Stinson

Mike Taylor

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