Cyclones Upend Huskers, 71-62

Wednesday, January 10

Ames, Iowa

7:00 PM

Iowa State

11-5, 2-0

Nebraska

11-4, 0-1

Team	1	2	F
Nebraska	30	32	62
Iowa State	27	44	71

01.10.2007 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

By: Iowa State University

AMES, Iowa?Mike Taylor poured in 22 points and drilled six 3-pointers, as Iowa State won its Big 12 home opener over Nebraska, 71-62, Wednesday night in Hilton Coliseum. The Cyclones, now 11-5 on the year, begin Big 12 play at 2-0 for just the fourth time in league history (1997, 2000, 2004). Taylor's six treys equals a career-high and ties for the eighth-best single-game effort in school history.

"Sometimes I just get in a groove," Taylor said. "I just try and think about shooting with a high arc and to follow through. The crowd really helped, because they gave us some adrenaline to get us going."

In the first half, Nebraska showed why they are one of the best shooting teams in the Big 12, hitting 52.2 percent from the field (12-23 FG) to hold a 30-27 advantage at the break. NU's Aleks Maric had nine points on a 4-of-7 effort from the floor. ISU shot 40.7 percent in the opening stanza, including a 3-of-15 effort ( 20.0 percent) from 3-point range. Mike Taylor made all three of Iowa State's 3-pointers en route to 11 first-half points.

"I have always felt that the first five minutes of the game and of the second half are the most important parts of the game," said Iowa State head coach Greg McDermott. "We didn't start the game the way we wanted to. Early in the game we didn't understand, but in the second half we came out and played well."

Iowa State quickly took the lead after the break, scoring 13 points in the first 4:36 of the second half to go up 40-35. Taylor drilled three treys and Wesley Johnson had a pair of buckets in the 13-5 run. ISU extended its lead to 11 points (53-42) at the 9:40 mark after a strong drive to the hoop by Rahshon Clark. NU charged back with a trey by Marcus Perry and a pair of free throws by Ryan Anderson to cut the lead back to six (53-47) with 7:35 remaining. ISU's lead snuck down to two points (55-53) at the 3:57 mark, but Jiri Hubalek scored on a 3-point play down low off a nice feed from Taylor to put ISU up 58-55. Dodie Dunson put the icing on the cake with a trey from the corner to pad ISU's lead to eight points with 2:24 left.

"In the second half, I think we found something that worked, and we stuck with it," McDermott said. "Mike (Taylor) did a great job at pushing the ball, and at the same time pulling back."

The Cyclones continued their domination on the boards, holding a 35-27 advantage on the glass. ISU has outrebounded eight of its last nine opponents. Wesley Johnson finished the game with his eighth double-double of the season with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Johnson is averaging 10.5 rebounds in his last nine games. Hubalek recorded his third consecutive double-double, scoring 13 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. Dodie Dunson was in double figures for the second?straight game with 11 points. Dunson has made 16 consecutive free-throws, including all six of his attempts tonight.

ISU plays host to No. 6 Kansas on Saturday. Tip is set for 1 p.m.

Game Notes

- Greg McDermott becomes the fifth coach in ISU history to open his rookie season 2-0 in conference play.

- ISU begins Big 12 play 2-0 for the fourth time in league history (1997, 2000, 2004, 2007).

-ISU had 15 assists and 11 turnovers, just the sixth time this season with a positive asst/turnover ratio.

- Mike Taylor has made a 3-pointer in 12 consecutive games.

- Taylor has had six 3-pointers in three games this season.

- ISU is 10-0 when keeping opponents under 70 points.

- Mike Taylor led ISU in scoring for the ninth time in 16 games, recording his fifth 20-point game with 22 points.

- Mike Taylor tied a career-high with six 3-pointers.

- With Taylor's six treys tonight, he now has 44 on the season, which ranks him 19th on the ISU single-season 3-pointers made list.

- ISU outrebounded the Cornhuskers, 35-27...ISU has outrebounded eight of its last nine opponents by a +8.0 margin.