Cyclones Return Home Saturday

Iowa State (7-5) vs. Southeast Missouri State (3-9)

Dec. 23, 2006 ? 1 p.m. ? Ames, Iowa ? Hilton Coliseum (14,092)

Radio: Cyclone Radio Network; John Walters (pxp), Eric Heft (color)

Television: Mediacom; B.J.Schaben (pxp), Jim Hallihan (color)

Gameday Quick Facts

Iowa State (7-5) returns home to Hilton for the first time since Dec. 13 for a matchup against Southeast Missouri State (3-9) on Saturday...ISU lost at No. 3 Ohio State on Tuesday, 75-56, hanging close with the Buckeyes until an 18-3 OSU run in the final minutes put the game out of reach...ISU has two non-conference games remaining before beginning the Big 12 season at Missouri on Jan. 6...ISU center Ross Marsden saw his first action in five games against Ohio State, playing nine minutes...he is still recovering from mono.

Cyclone-Redhawk Quick Facts

Iowa State and Southeast Missouri State meet for the first time on Saturday...both teams have played Drake and UC-Riverside this season...Drake beat SEMO (78-51) and Iowa State (80-78)...UC-Riverside lost to SEMO (78-75) and ISU (69-61)...ISU is 8-1 all-time vs. Ohio Valley Conference schools, including a 56-54 win over Eastern Illinois earlier this season...the only OVC school to defeat ISU was Murray State...the Cyclones lost to the Racers, 84-76 in overtime on Dec. 26, 1997...the game was played in Bayamon, Puerto Rico...Redhawk junior Brandon Foust is a transfer from Oklahoma...he scored four points against Iowa State in Norman during the 2003-04 season...he did not play against the Cyclones the following year in Ames...Redhawk assistant Toby Lane spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Oklahoma on Kelvin Sampson's staff...he was also an assistant for one season under former ISU head coach Wayne Morgan in his final season at Long Beach State (2001-02).

Cyclone Update

Iowa State returns home after losing at No. 3 Ohio State on Tuesday, 75-56...the Cyclones hung with the highly-rated Buckeyes throughout most of the game, trailing by just two points with seven minutes remaining in the contest...Ohio State scored the final 13 points to help provide for its 19-point cushion...ISU was down by one point at the half (29-28)...the Cyclones received a strong effort from junior guard Mike Taylor, who scored a game-high 24 points on 9-of-13 shooting from the floor...it was Taylor's fourth 20-point outing of the season and his second-best scoring effort of his career...Taylor drilled four 3-pointers to help ISU record 10 for the game, the third time this season where ISU made 10 or more treys in a game...Taylor now has a team-high 30 3-pointers on the season...Wesley Johnson kept up his strong play with 10 points and eight boards...Johnson, who is second in the Big 12 in offensive rebounding (3.41), has scored in double figures in 10 of 12 games, including seven straight...the reigning Big 12 Player of the Week leads the league in double-doubles with five...the rookie also blocked two shots against the Buckeyes, increasing his team high total to 17...ISU lost the rebounding battle to the Buckeyes by one board, ending ISU's four-game streak of rebounding dominance...freshman forward Cory Johnson started his third consecutive game for ISU, pouring in eight points and grabbing four rebounds...Cory Johnson currently leads the Cyclones in field goal shooting at 53.7 percent...Ohio State held a 15-2 advantage at the free-throw line...Ohio State shot 52.8 percent from the floor in the win...ISU did not let an opponent shoot above 50 percent in its first 10 games, but have allowed 50 percent or better in the last two games (Bradley- 50.9 percent)...ISU has only been outshot five times this season at the free-throw line, all five of ISU's road games...Iowa State is 0-5 when its opponent scores 70 or more points.

Southeast Missouri State (3-9)

Southeast Missouri State has a 3-9 overall record after a 65-64 loss to Samford on Tuesday...the Redhawks are led by Oklahoma transfer Brandon Foust, who has a team-high 11.3 scoring and 5.6 rebounding average...Foust, a 6-6 junior from Columbus, Ohio, scored four points in 10 minutes against Iowa State in a 75-48 Oklahoma win in 2004...Foust is shooting 44.1 percent from the field and is second on the team in assists at 2.0 apg...junior guard David Johnson is averaging 10.3 ppg and has a team-high 20 steals...Johnson is the Redhawks' top outside threat, hitting a team-high 26 treys...Johnson drilled four treys en route to a team-high 15 points last week vs. Tennessee Tech...Michael Rembert, a 6-9, 250-pound center from Chicago, is another transfer making an impression in his first season with the Redhawks...Rembert, who transferred from Bradley, is averaging 9.6 points and 5.1 rebounds...SEMO, as a team, is shooting 39.9 percent from the field and 57.7 percent from the free-throw line this season...the Redhawks are getting outrebounded by a -6.8 margin...SEMO likes to play an up-tempo game on both offense and defense...the Redhawks are averaging 8.25 steals per game with five players with double-digits in thefts...SEMO is coached by Scott Edgar, who is in his first season at the helm...he is in his second stint as a head coach, leading Murray State to two NCAA Tournaments and three OVC titles from 1991-95.

Iowa State Team Quick Facts

? Iowa State has just four returning scholarship players from last season.

? 64.2 percent of the minutes played (1540) in ISU's 12 games were by newcomers on the roster.

? 68.3 percent of ISU's points this season (542) are from players who did not play a minute last year.

? ISU's 6-0 start tied for the fifth-best start in school history...only nine teams in school history had won its first six games.

? ISU head coach Greg McDermott is one of two coaches in ISU history to win his first six games at the helm.

? ISU head coach Greg McDermott is the first native Iowan to coach the Cyclone men's basketball team since Clayton Sutherland (1948-54)...McDermott is from Cascade; Sutherland was from Nashua.

? McDermott entered the season with the 41st-best winning percentage among active Division I coaches.

? Wesley Johnson broke Will Blalock's school-record for standing vertical leap at 34 inches...Blalock's record was at 33 1/2 inches...Johnson also had a 41-inch step vertical leap to break the school record.

? ISU head coach Greg McDermott is in his first season with the Cyclones, but he is already the seventh-longest tenured coach in the Big 12...of the six new coaches in the league (Mike Anderson, Missouri; Bob Huggins, Kansas State; Doc Sadler, Nebraska; Jeff Capel, Oklahoma; Sean Sutton, Oklahoma State; Greg McDermott, Iowa State), McDermott was the first to be hired.

? ESPN.com picked Hilton Coliseum as the "Hot Arena" in the Big 12...coaches in the league noted that, "regardless of talent, the Cyclones have a home court like no other."

? ISU junior college transfers Corey McIntosh and Mike Taylor have witnessed a ton of success in their collegiate playing career...McIntosh tallied a 59-9 record in his two seasons in JC ball, while Taylor recorded a 62-8 mark in his two seasons at Chipola JC...the pair posted a combined 121-17 record in their two years in junior college.

? ISU held Louisiana-Monroe to 27.3 percent from the field, the first time a Cyclone opponent was held under 30 percent shooting since Dec. 31, 2002 (Arkansas-Pine Bluff).

? 11 different Cyclones have made a 3-pointer this season.

? ISU hit a season-high 11 treys vs. Lake Superior State, tying for the 15th-best single-game total in ISU history.

? ISU has recorded three games with 10 or more 3-pointers this year.

? ISU tallied a season-high nine blocks vs. Northern Iowa, the most since blocking 10 against Drake (11-23-04).

? ISU has made a 3-pointer in 44 consecutive games.

? ISU ranks fourth in the Big 12 in rebounding (37.3 rpg) and rebounding margin (+4.3).

? ISU has outrebounded four of its last five opponents, 180-146, a +6.8 average margin.

? ISU has shot more free-throws than its opponents in eight of 12 games this year.

? ISU has outshot its opponents from the free-throw line, 163-79 in home games...but is getting outshot at the charity stripe, 75-34 in away games.

? ISU is 5-0 when ahead at the half and when it shoots better than its opponent.

? Only five teams (Northern Iowa, Drake, Iowa, Bradley, Ohio State) have scored 70 or more points against ISU this season...22 teams scored 70 or more points against the Cyclones last season.

? ISU ranks in the top-20 nationally in least amount of fouls per game (14.9)...only two teams (Northern Iowa & Iowa) have committed less fouls than ISU in a game this year.

? Wesley Johnson and Cory Johnson were a combined 4-of-19 from 3-point range (21.0 percent) in ISU's first nine games...the pair are 9-of-16 from downtown (56.3 percent) in ISU's last three games.

Getting To The Line

In the preseason, Greg McDermott talked about the importance of getting to the free-throw line to increase your chances to win...so far, so good for ISU, as the Cyclones have been able to capitalize at the free-throw line...ISU has attempted more free-throw attempts than its opponent in eight of 12 games this season, holding a 215-171 (+3.7) advantage at the charity stripe...what a difference from last season when the Cyclones were outshot at the foul line, 735-548 (-6.2)...Minnesota, Northern Iowa, Iowa and Ohio State - ISU's four road games - are the only teams to shoot more free throws than ISU.

Don't Foul!

Keeping fouls at a minimum has allowed ISU to have an advantage at the free-throw line this season...the Cyclones currently rank in the 11th nationally in fewest fouls per game at 14.9...the Cyclones have had just one player foul out of a game this season compared to last year when a Cyclone fouled out 22 times...in 24 halves this season, the Cyclones have allowed their opponents to have just six double-bonus situations (10 fouls) at the free-throw line...only three teams this season (Northern Iowa, Iowa, Ohio State) have tallied less fouls than ISU.

Hitting The Boards

Iowa State has made a vast improvement in rebounding compared to last year when the Cyclones were outrebounded 19 times...ISU currently has a +4.3 margin (37.3-33.1) over its opponents in rebounding to rank fourth in the league...the Cyclones have only been outrebounded four times this season (UC Riverside, Eastern Illinois, Northern Iowa, Ohio State)...ISU has outboarded four of its last five opponents for a +6.8 average margin...ISU has not finished a season with a positive rebounding margin since 2003-04.

Clark Is The Leader

Junior Rahshon Clark is the undisputed leader of the Cyclone team...now in his third-year as a starter and first year as team captain, Clark is ISU's most experienced and most seasoned player...he brings to the table incredible athleticism and jumping ability...the junior has drastically improved his rebounding, leading the team on the boards at 8.5 rpg, which ranks second in the Big 12 and top-50 nationally...his long arms and quick jumping ability allows him to outrebound bigger and stronger opponents...Clark has tallied eight or more rebounds in 10 of 12 games this season, including four double-digit rebounding efforts (12-Eastern Illinois, 11-Minnesota, 10-Northern Iowa, 11-Iowa)...he has two double-doubles on the season.

Taylor Made

Mike Taylor's high-energy style of play and outstanding shooting has excited ISU fans so far in the young season...he can stretch the defense with his range and explode to the hoop with his quickness...he tallied one of the greatest second halves in ISU history vs. Minnesota, recording 25 of his career-high 33 points after intermission...he tallied a career-high six 3-pointers, all in the second half vs. the Gophers...he followed that game with 22 points in the first half vs. Lake Superior State, drilling his first six treys...dating back to the Minnesota game, he had a streak of nine consecutive 3-pointers made...he leads the team in scoring (15.8), 3-pointers (30) and assists (55)...Taylor ranks 10th in the Big 12 in scoring (15.8 ppg) and eighth in assists (4.6).

Taylor's Incredible Run Earns Him Big 12 Co-Rookie Of The Week Honors

Mike Taylor posted arguably the greatest back-to-back half performances in school history against Minnesota and Lake Superior State, helping him earn Big 12 Co-Rookie of the Week honors...in the second half vs. Minnesota, Taylor had 25 points and six treys...he answered that performance in his next game, tallying 22 points and six treys in the first half vs. Lake Superior State...at one point, Taylor had a string of nine consecutive 3-pointers made...here is a closer look at his consecutive half performances:

Taylor Ties Single-Game Scoring Mark For First-Year Cyclones

Mike Taylor had a career night vs. Minnesota, pouring in 33 points to help ISU down the Gophers...Taylor's 33 points vs. Minnesota ties the school record for most points scored in a game by a Cyclone in their first season on the team.

Wesley Johnson- A Diamond In The Rough

True freshman Wesley Johnson has done a fantastic job early in his rookie season at ISU...Johnson has started all 12 games, averaging 12.4 ppg and 7.8 rpg...Johnson had fallen through the recruiting cracks after his prep school shut down in his senior season, thus not playing basketball in his final year...ISU assistant coach Jean Prioleau had recruited him when he was an assistant at Wichita State...when Prioleau was hired at ISU and the Cyclones needed players late in the March 2006 signing period, Prioleau contacted Johnson and convinced him to come to ISU...Johnson leads the team and the Big 12 with five double-doubles this season...he also leads ISU in blocks with 17, recording a career-high three vs. Norfolk State and Northern Iowa...he ranks 10 in the league in blocked shots (1.41 bpg)...he has recorded a block in nine of 12 games this season...despite his lack of size, Wesley's incredible leaping ability allows him to be an effective offensive rebounder...41 of his 94 rebounds have come on the offensive end, averaging 3.4 offensive rebounds per game, which ranks second in the Big 12...he has scored in double figures in 10 of 12 games this season...in his last seven games, he is averaging 14.3 points...in his last five games he is averaging 9.6 rpg...he has recorded a double-double in three of his last five games...in the two games in the last five he did not have a double-double, he was one rebound shy of one at Iowa and two boards shy of one at Ohio State.

Johnson Trying To Become Third Cyclone To Start Every Game As A Rookie

True freshman Wesley Johnson got the starting nod in ISU's season-opening game vs. UC-Riverside and has been in the Cyclones' top-five ever since...he is trying to become just the third Cyclone freshman in school history to start every game of their rookie campaign...Ron Harris, who started every game of his four-year Cyclone career (111 games), started all 27 games of ISU's 1980-81 season en route to Big Eight Freshman of the Year honors...Adam Haluska played just one season at Iowa State, but started all 31 games in his rookie season with the Cyclones in 2002-03...Haluska, who transferred to Iowa after the season ended, was named to the 2003 Big 12 all-Freshman team...Curtis Stinson was close to joining the list in his freshman year in 2003-04, but he missed one start in ISU's 33 games that year en route to Big 12 Freshman of the Year honors...his only missed start was on "senior night" in ISU's last home game that season.

Johnson Earns Big 12 Player Of The Week Honors

Iowa State freshman forward Wesley Johnson posted a pair of double-doubles to help him earn Big 12 Player of the Week honors for games played from Dec. 11-17...Johnson was just the third freshman in Big 12 history to win player of the week honors, following Mario Chalmers of Kansas (Feb. 13, 2006) and Oklahoma's Drew Lavender (Dec. 15, 2003)...Johnson averaged 16.5 points and 10.5 rebounds as the Cyclones recorded a 1-1 record...the Corsicana, Texas, native had consecutive double-doubles, beginning with 15 points and 11 boards in a 70-59 victory over Savannah State...he followed with a career-high 18 points and 10 rebounds in a 76-66 loss to Bradley...Johnson shot 52.9 percent (9-of-17) in two outings, including 3-of-5 (.600) from 3-point range.

70 Is The Magic Number

Keeping the opposition from getting into a high-scoring game increases ISU's chances of winning...ISU is 7-0 this season when its opponents score under 70 points...ISU has given up 70 points five times to its opponents so far this, all Cyclone losses (Northern Iowa-70, Drake-80, Iowa-77, Bradley-76, Ohio State-75).

Players Mentioned

Will Blalock

Rahshon Clark

Rahshon Clark

Cory Johnson

Wesley Johnson

Ross Marsden

Ross Marsden

Corey McIntosh

Curtis Stinson

Mike Taylor

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