Cyclones Beat Savannah State, 70-59

Wednesday, December 13

Ames, Iowa

7:00 PM

Iowa State

7-3

Savannah State

5-8

Team	1	2	F
Savannah State	32	27	59
Iowa State	34	36	70

Cyclones Beat Savannah State, 70-59

12.13.2006 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

By: Iowa State University

AMES, Iowa?Wesley Johnson recorded his fourth double-double of the season and Rahshon Clark poured in a season-high 16 points to pace Iowa State to a 70-59 victory over Savannah State Wednesday night in Hilton Coliseum. The win increases ISU's record to 7-3, ending a three-game losing streak.

"I'm just happy to see those guys smile again," ISU head coach Greg McDermott said after the win. "We purposely slowed the tempo in an effort to control our mistakes. We just didn't feel like we could turn the ball over 20-plus times again, so we decided to slow the game down."

Both teams came out on fire after the opening tip. Savannah State made 5-of-its-first-8 shots while ISU made 6-of-10 from the floor early on, as SSU held a 14-13 lead with less than 14 minutes remaining in the opening period. The Cyclones moved out in front 24-16 with eight minutes left before the half, thanks to an 11-3 run. Jiri Hubalek made a pair of baskets and Brock Jacobson hit a trey to pace ISU on its run.

Wesley Johnson closed out the first half with nine points and seven rebounds, as the Cyclones held a 34-32 advantage at intermission. Two late treys by SSU's Joseph Flegler helped the Tigers keep the halftime deficit at two points. Flegler finished the first half with 15 points, hitting 5-of-7 shots from the field.

The Cyclones could not shake the Tigers in the second half as well. Every time ISU looked to move ahead, SSU had an answer. After a Rahshon Clark putback pushed ISU out in front 48-42 with 9:50 left, the Tigers answered with five-straight points to claw back within one (48-47). A free-throw by Mike Taylor and a low-post score by Hubalek forged ISU out in front, 51-47, but SSU's Patrick Hardy hit a three on its next possession to yet again squash ISU's momentum. Taylor, who was held without a field goal for nearly 35 minutes, came up big with his first basket of the game, a crucial 3-pointer to give ISU a 60-53 lead to put the game out of reach in the closing minutes.

"Mike made a huge three," McDermott added. "He came off a screen, the post rolled to the hoop, but Mike made the right read and made a huge play for our team."

The Cyclones held a huge advantage on the glass, outrebounding the Tigers, 38-20. ISU has been outrebounded just twice this season. ISU committed a season-low 10 turnovers after tallying a season-high 26 in its last game vs. Iowa. Flegler finished with 22 points to lead the Tigers, who fall to 5-8.

Iowa State plays host to Bradley on Saturday in the Mediacom Cyclone Capital Classic at the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. Tip-off is at 2 p.m.

Notes

- True freshmen Dodie Dunson and Cory Johnson started the first games of their career.

- Rahshon Clark tallied his 700^th point of his career in the first half...Clark scored a season-high 16 points.

- Jessan Gray suffered a broken nose in the first half and did not return to the game.

- Wesley Johnson scored in double figures for the eighth time in 10 games with 15 points.

- ISU had a 38-20 advantage on the glass...ISU has been outrebounded just twice this season in 10 games.

- ISU shot more free throws (34-8) than its opponent for the seventh time this season.

- Wesley Johnson notched his fourth double-double of the season with 15 points and 11 rebounds.

- Mike Taylor dished out a team-high five assists...Taylor has recorded five or more assists in the last eight games.

- Clark had eight boards, the ninth time this season with eight or more rebounds.

- ISU committed a season-low 10 turnovers.