North Dakota State is ISU's Final Non-Conference Tilt

AMES, Iowa-Iowa State (10-4, 0-0 Big 12) returns home to face North Dakota State (5-9, 2-3 Summit) in its last non-conference test of the season Saturday afternoon on ESPNU. ISU had its four-game winning streak snapped by No. 5 Duke (86-65) Wednesday night at the United Center in Chicago.

Who: Iowa State (10-4, 0-0) vs. North Dakota State (5-9, 2-3)
When: Saturday, Jan. 9, 2010 ? 3 p.m.
Where: Ames, Iowa ? Hilton Coliseum (14,356)
Radio: Cyclone Radio Network/Learfield
Talent: John Walters (pxp); Eric Heft (color)
Television: ESPNU
Talent: Clay Matvick (pxp); Stephen Howard (color)
Online Audio: Clone Zone

Cyclone Notebook
- Iowa State (10-4, 0-0 Big 12) returns home to face North Dakota State (5-9, 2-3 Summit) in its last non-conference test of the season Saturday afternoon on ESPNU.
- ISU had its four-game winning streak snapped by No. 5 Duke (86-65) Wednesday night in the United Center in Chicago.
- The Cyclones have played three neutral games this season, all in the Windy City...ISU faced St. Louis and Northwestern at the UIC Pavilion as part of the Chicago Invitational during Thanksgiving.
- Big 12 competition begins on Saturday, but the Cyclones will use their bye on the first weekend to play the Bison...ISU head coach Greg McDermott was the head coach at NDSU for one season (2000-01) and his daughter Sydney was born in Fargo, N.D.
- The Cyclones are in the midst of a very challenging stretch where they face three top-five teams in a 2 1/2 week span (No. 5 Duke, No. 2 Texas, No. 1 Kansas).
- The last time ISU played three top-five teams in that close of a time frame was in Feb.-March 1990 (No. 1 Missouri, No. 1 Kansas, No. 2 Kansas).

Last Time Out
- Iowa State fell behind No. 5 Duke 14-2 and never really recovered, losing to the Blue Devils, 86-65 at the United Center in Chicago.
- After falling down early, ISU mounted an 11-0 run to get back into the game...the Cyclones were down by eight points at the half, but Duke staged a rally at the beginning of the second half to take control of the game.
- Duke was the second ranked team ISU has faced this season (California) and the loss drops the Cyclones' all-time record vs. ACC opponents to 2-12.
- Marquis Gilstrap led the way for the Cyclones, scoring 16 points and grabbing nine rebounds in the loss.
- ISU came into the game as the fifth-ranked team in the nation in 3-point field goal percentage at 42.6 percent, but made just 2-of-9 shots (22.2 percent) from beyond the arc.
- Gilstrap made both of ISU's treys, including one from 28-feet at the final buzzer of the first half.
- ISU ended its four-game streak of scoring 80 points or more against Duke.
- The Cyclones did manage to outshoot the Blue Devils, 45.6%-44.6%...ISU has outshot 11 of 14 opponents this year, including five in a row.
- Gilstrap was one of four Cyclones in double figures against Duke (Craig Brackins, 12; Justin Hamilton, 10; Diante Garrett, 10).
- Brackins scored 10 of his 12 points in the second half and had a team-high three blocks, all in the first half.
- Brackins, who has seven blocks in the last two games, moves up to No. 8 on ISU's career blocked shot chart with 83.
- Hamilton, who averages 4.8 points and 3.4 rebounds, tallied his second-straight solid game with 10 points and seven boards.
- Hamilton is averaging 9.0 points and 8.0 rebounds in his last two games...he is shooting 76.9 percent (30-39 FG) from the field this season.
- ISU registered eight blocks in the game, all in the first half...the Cyclones are averaging 9.0 blocks in the last two games.
- Garrett was 5-of-9 from the field en route to his 11 points...Garrett has been in double figures in three-straight games, averaging 11.0 ppg in that span.
- ISU committed a season-high 18 turnovers.

Cyclone-Bison Quick Facts
- Iowa State and North Dakota State meet for the fourth time on Saturday...ISU is 3-0 lifetime against the Bison, winning all three games in Ames.
- The Cyclones defeated NDSU, 86-60 in the Armory in the first meeting on Dec. 3, 1955...in the last meeting, ISU won 67-54 in Hilton Coliseum on Dec. 31, 2006 in Iowa State head coach Greg McDermott's first season at ISU.
- McDermott was head coach at NDSU for one season, compiling a 15-11 mark in 2000-01...he left after his only season in Fargo to take the job at Northern Iowa...he coached against NDSU many times as an assistant at North Dakota (1989-95).
- McDermott has coached against all three of his former head coaching stops (Wayne State, North Dakota State, Northern Iowa) while at Iowa State.
- ISU assistant coach Jeff Rutter was an assistant coach at NDSU from 1990-95...the Bison went 43-17 and made two-straight NCAA Tournament appearances in Rutter's final two seasons as an assistant...he earned his master's degree at NDSU in 1992.
- NDSU head coach Saul Phillips was a graduate assistant for McDermott when he was the head coach at Wayne State...NDSU assistant David Richman was a student assistant for McDermott when he was the head coach at NDSU...he worked with McDermott for a semester at UNI before going back to NDSU.
- NDSU freshman Andy Nagel is a native of Ft. Dodge, prepping at St. Edmond HS.

A Closer Look At North Dakota State
- North Dakota State fell to 5-9 on the season after losing in overtime at Southern Utah (85-79) in Summit League action Thursday night.
- The Bison were led by Josh Vaughan, who poured in a career-high 28 points (9-16 FG; 3-7 3FG; 7-8 FT)...Vaughan also had a team-high five assists.
- NDSU is led by junior forward Michael Tveidt, who is averaging 15.4 points and 5.3 rebounds...Tveidt tallied a career-high 29 points in a victory over Centenary.
- Tveidt, who is shooting 41.1 percent from the field, has scored 20 points or more three times this season...he is the only returning starter from last season's NCAA Tournament team.
- Eric Carlson leads the team in scoring (16.0) and rebounding (7.6).
- The 6-6 sophomore from Shakopee, Minn., leads the team with two double-doubles.
- Vaughan, a senior guard, is averaging 14.6 points and has a team-high 4.4 apg average...he had a season-high eight assists vs. Dickinson State.
- Freshman Jordan Aaberg has started four games, averaging 4.9 ppg and leading the team in field goal percentage at 60.0 percent...he had 12 points, eight rebounds six blocks vs. Wisconsin-Green Bay.
- In NDSU's five league games, the Bison lead the Summit League in rebounding average (40.2 rpg) and defensive rebounds (29.5 rpg).
- NDSU was picked to finish fifth in the 10-team Summit League.

Iowa State Team Quick Facts
- ISU has led at the half in 11 of 14 games this year.
- ISU has used the same starting lineup in all 14 games (Craig Brackins, Justin Hamilton, Marquis Gilstrap, Diante Garrett, Lucca Staiger).
- In two of ISU's four losses, the Cyclones have held leads of seven points or more with less than 13 minutes remaining.
- Nine of ISU's wins have been by 10 or more points, the most 10+ wins in a season since 2004-05 (12).
- ISU has scored 70 points or more in nine of 14 games this season, averaging 77.2 ppg...ISU is 31-2 in the Greg McDermott era when scoring 70 points or more.
- ISU's scoring offense is currently at a 12.3 ppg increase from last season...ISU averaged 64.9 ppg last year (77.2-64.9).
- ISU has scored 80 or more points in eight games...the Cyclones only reached 80 points once last season.
- ISU scored 80 points or more in four-straight games (Iowa, Bradley, North Dakota, Houston) for the first time since the 2005-06 season.
- The Cyclones scored 90 points or more in consecutive games (at Drake; vs. Mississippi Valley State) for the first time since the 2000-01 season.
- ISU defeated Mississippi Valley State, 96-55...the 96 points is the most in the Greg McDermott era...the most points scored by a Greg McDermott-coached team vs. a Division I opponent was 99 against Iowa State when he was head coach at UNI (2004).
- ISU won five consecutive games by 20+ points for just the third time in school history and for the first time since 2000.
- ISU is fourth in the Big 12 and 24th nationally in field goal percentage (48.7 percent).
- ISU has not allowed a team to shoot above 50 percent this season...ISU opponents are shooting 40.0 percent from the field.
- ISU has shot 50 percent or above in seven games for a 48.7 percent season tally...ISU is 15-0 when shooting 50 percent or above in the McDermott era.
- In the first three seasons of the Greg McDermott era, ISU only shot above 50 percent eight times...ISU has done it seven times this season after only achieving the mark just once a year ago.
- ISU has outshot 11 of 14 opponents this year.
- The Cyclones have shot better than their opponent in five-straight games.
- ISU is ninth nationally and second in the Big 12 in 3-point field goal percentage at 41.9 percent (103-246 3FG).
- ISU has shot above 40.0 percent from 3-point range in nine games.
- ISU is fifth in the Big 12 in 3-pointers made per game at 7.4 3FG.
- ISU has made 10 or more 3-pointers three times this season.
- The Cyclones rank third in the Big 12 and 35th nationally in assists at 16.4 apg.
- The Cyclones have had equal or more assists than turnovers in a game nine times this season.
- ISU ranks fourth in the Big 12 in blocks at 5.2 bpg.
- The Cyclones are averaging 9.0 blocks per game in the last two games.
- ISU is 31-2 in the McDermott era when its opponents score under 60 points.

Iowa State Player Quick Facts
Craig Brackins
- Preseason All-American...Naismith Award candidate.
- Named Big 12 Player of the Week four times in his career...once this year.
- Has 28 20-point games and four 30-point games in his career.
- Has 16 20-point/10-rebound games and 22 double-doubles in his career.
- Recorded 20 points in a half four times in his career...once this year (Iowa).
- Ranks 19th on ISU's career scoring chart with 1,249 points.
- Ranks eighth on ISU's career blocked shot chart (83).
- Scored in double figures in 46 of his last 49 games.
- Has 12-straight double-figure scoring games.
- Posted back-to-back 20-point/10-rebound games vs. Drake and Mississippi Valley State to earn Big 12 Player of the Week honors.
- Has four double-doubles and two 20-point/10-rebound outings this year.
- Scored 20 or more points four times this year.
- Ranks seventh in Big 12 scoring (17.0 ppg) and seventh in rebounding (7.9 rpg).
- Second on the team in assists (2.6 apg).
- Leads team and ranks sixth in the Big 12 in blocks (1.6 bpg).
- Averaging 3.5 bpg in last two games.
- Named to the Chicago Invitational All-Tournament team (17.1 pts./7.6 reb.).

Diante Garrett
- Bob Cousy Award nominee.
- Averaging 8.4 points and 5.4 assists.
- Scored in double figures in three-straight games, averaging 11.0 ppg in that span.
- Has the team's longest current starting streak at 46-straight games.
- Handed out five or more assists 32 times in his career...eight games this season.
- Ranks 10th on ISU's all-time career assist chart with 327.
- Has a 2.5 assist/turnover ratio to rank fourth in the Big 12.
- His career 1.60 assist/turnover ratio ranks 10th all-time in school history.
- Second in the Big 12 and ranks 36th nationally in assists at 5.4 apg.
- Has six double-digit assist games in his career...two this season.
- The active Big 12 leader in double-digit assist performances with six.
- Tied his career high with 11 assists at Drake, tying the Knapp Center record.
- Scored a season-high 16 points in the St. Louis win.

Lucca Staiger
- Has made two or more treys 33 times in his career...10 times this season.
- Has five games in his career with six or more treys...three times this season.
- Made a 3-pointer in 11 of 14 games this year.
- Third in Big 12 and 52nd nationally in 3-pointers per game (2.8 3FG).
- Hitting 41.5 percent (39-94 3FG) from 3-point range.
- Ranks seventh on ISU's career 3-pointers made list with 113.
- His career 39.5 percent clip from 3-point range ranks fourth in school history.
- Broke the school record for 3-pointers made in a game with 10 at Drake...that mark ties for second on the Big 12's single game chart.
u Tallied a career-high 32 points at Drake.
- Owns two of the top three ISU single-game 3-pointers made marks (10 vs. Drake; 8 vs. Drake).
- Named to the Chicago Invitational All-Tournament team (14.0 pts./9-21 3FG).

Marquis Gilstrap
- Started all 14 games, averaging 8.6 rebounds to rank sixth in the Big 12 and 79th nationally.
- Averaging 14.9 ppg to rank second on the team.
- Scored in double figures in 13 of 14 games and in 11-straight.
- Averaging 18.5 points in his last four games.
- Recorded his first double-double with 11 points and 15 rebounds vs. Chicago State...the 15 boards was the most by a Cyclone since Brackins had 16 vs. SIU-E.
- Posted a career-high 25 points vs. Bradley (7-11 FG; 3-4 3FG).
- Leads team in double-doubles with five, tying for fourth in league.
- Earned Big 12 Rookie of the Week honors three times (Nov. 23; Dec. 21; Jan. 4).

Scott Christopherson
- Averaging 7.6 ppg.
- Shooting 51.6 percent (16-31 3FG) from 3-point range.
- Scored in double figures from off the bench in seven games.
- Made 53.5 percent of his shots from the field (38-of-71 FG).
- Recorded two or more 3-pointers six times.

Jamie Vanderbeken
- Has made 60.0 percent of his shots this year (15-25 FG).
- Is a career 42.1 percent shooter from beyond the arc (43-102 3FG)...he needs seven treys to meet the school's minimum for career 3-point percentage.
- Made 8-of-16 from beyond the arc this year.
- Has missed four games because of various injuries.
- Sat out much of the preseason after a suffering a stress fracture in tryouts for the Great Britain team that participated in the 2009 European Championships.

Justin Hamilton
- Started every game at center...leads team in FG percentage (76.9 pct./30-39 FG).
- Averaging 9.0 points and 8.0 rebounds in last two games.
- Is a career 62.6 percent shooter from the field (87-139 FG).

LaRon Dendy
- Scored 16 points and grabbed seven boards in his Cyclone debut vs. Idaho State.
- Missed five games because of a knee sprain this season.
- Averaging 7.2 points.

North Dakota State is ISU's Final Non-Conference Tilt

Players Mentioned

Craig Brackins

Craig Brackins

Scott Christopherson

Scott Christopherson

Scott Christopherson

LaRon Dendy

Diante Garrett

Diante Garrett

Diante Garrett

Marquis Gilstrap

Justin Hamilton

Justin Hamilton

Lucca Staiger

Lucca Staiger

Jamie Vanderbeken

Jamie Vanderbeken

Jamie Vanderbeken

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Iowa State University Athletics

North Dakota State is ISU's Final Non-Conference Tilt

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Players Mentioned

Craig Brackins

Craig Brackins

Scott Christopherson

Scott Christopherson

Scott Christopherson

LaRon Dendy

Diante Garrett

Diante Garrett

Diante Garrett

Marquis Gilstrap

Justin Hamilton

Justin Hamilton

Lucca Staiger

Lucca Staiger

Jamie Vanderbeken

Jamie Vanderbeken

Jamie Vanderbeken

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