Cyclones Comeback for 66-65 Win at Mizzou

Saturday, January 6

Columbia, Mo.

5:00 PM

Iowa State

10-5, 1-0Big 12

Missouri

11-3, 0-1Big 12

Team	1	2	F
Iowa State	23	43	66
Missouri	25	40	65

Cyclones Comeback for 66-65 Win at Mizzou

01.06.2007 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

By: Iowa State University

COLUMBIA, Mo. ? Wesley Johnson tipped in a shot with 1.6 seconds left as Iowa State overcame a 16-point second-half deficit to defeat Missouri, 66-65, to open Big 12 Conference action Saturday night at Mizzou Arena.

Johnson made a layup with 11.1 seconds left to put the Cyclones within one, 65-64, after trailing since 14:20 mark of the first half. The Iowa State defense came up big, getting a stop on the Tigers' inbounds play, forcing a travel and giving the Cyclones possession under their own basket. Michael Taylor, who finished with 17 points, missed a three that Johnson tipped in for the victory.

The win was just Iowa State's second Big 12 road-opening win since the league was formed. The first was a 68-65 win over Missouri in Columbia on Jan. 4, 1997. The Cyclones improved to 10-5 on the season and 1-0 in the Big 12, while Mizzou fell to 11-3 and 0-1 in the league.

The 16-point turnaround in the second half was the second largest second-half comeback in Iowa State school history since overcoming an 18-point second half deficit to defeat No. 2 Oklahoma State 84-83 in overtime on Feb. 15, 1992. It was also the first buzzer-beater win since Feb. 23, 2002, when ISU won in the closing seconds against Kansas State, 73-71.

“To their credit, everybody I asked to go in and contribute was able to contribute,” ISU head coach Greg McDermott said. “We executed some things late, on the defensive end in particular, and we had some guys step up and hit some big shots.”

Freshman Dodie Dunson led the Cyclones, hitting several key shots in Iowa State's comeback, with a career-high 19 points, including going 4-of-7 from beyond the arc on his 20^th birthday. Johnson finished with his seventh double-double of the season, turning in 14 points and 13 rebounds in the contest. Jiri Hubalek also finished with his second consecutive double-double with 10 points and 11 boards, including seven off the offensive glass.

The Cyclones warmed up in the second half, shooting 48.5 percent after a dismal first half, to finish hitting 40 percent from the floor. The Cyclones outrebounded the Tigers, 43-33, and finished with 20 turnovers, after committing 14 in the first half.

The Tigers went on a 17-5 run to get out to their largest lead, 44-28, just five minutes into the second half. But Dunson picked up the Cyclones, hitting a trey, getting a steal on the defensive end of the floor and earning a conventional three-point play off a layup to put ISU back within 10. The Cyclones slowly chipped away at the lead, getting within four points, 61-57, with just over three minutes to play on a Johnson free throw.

The Cyclones were within two points, 25-23, at intermission after Taylor turned in 12 points on 4-of-9 shooting with a pair of treys. Iowa State was able to keep it close despite committing 14 turnovers and shooting 29.6 percent from the field. ISU held MU to 25.9 percent shooting and forced the Tigers into seven turnovers, while outrebounding Missouri, 23-18.

The Cyclones host their Big 12 home opener against the Nebraska Cornhuskers on Wednesday, Jan. 10, at 7 p.m.