ISU Routs NDSU Behind Strong Second Half, 84-64

AMES, Iowa – No. 5 Iowa State (6-0) got hot in the second half in its 84-64 victory over North Dakota State (4-2) Tuesday night in Hilton Coliseum.

The Cyclones shot 54.3 percent in the second half to break open a tight game and claim their 30th consecutive win over a non-conference opponent at home.

Jameel McKay led the way with a monster game, tallying 15 points and a career-high 19 rebounds en route to his seventh career double-double. He was joined by four other Cyclones in double figures, including a 21-point effort from Abel Nader. Nader also buried three triples in the Cyclone victory.

Monte Morris had 18 points and six assists, giving him 351 in his career to move to 10th on ISU's career list. Georges Niang added 15 points, including 13 points after intermission.
How it Happened

Iowa State briefly opened up a tight game in the first half with a 7-0 run. A tip-in and dunk by McKay was followed by a Morris trey, as the Cyclones went ahead 24-15 with 8:43 left before the half.

The Bison then answered with an 11-0 run to go up 25-24 with under six minutes left. Niang, who was scoreless at that point, left the game briefly after his knee buckled on a spin move.

NDSU then stretched its lead to 30-27 with 2:18 left before the half, but like this Cyclone team has done so many time, a quick flurry to end the half gave ISU a 36-30 lead at the break.

Niang, who returned to the game moments earlier, scored on a nifty post move to start the run. Nader and McKay closed out the 9-0 run with a 3-pointer and a rebound dunk.

Iowa State improved its lead to 11 points early in the second half, but the Bison wouldn't go away. A.J. Jacobson made a trio of 3-pointers to help NDSU trim the lead to 52-50 with 12:00 left in the contest.

The Cyclones were clinging to a 61-56 lead at the 8:10 mark until quickly taking control of the game with a 9-0 run, moving ahead 70-56 with 6:21 left in the game. All four baskets in the run were converted by Cyclone steals.

The Bison never threatened the rest of the way.

Cyclone of Note
Jameel McKay was active on the glass and on offense, producing his second double-double of the season with 15 points and a career-high 19 boards. It was his seventh career double-double. McKay's 19 caroms was the most by a Cyclone since Jared Homan grabbed 20 rebounds vs. eventual national champion North Carolina in the 2005 NCAA Tournament.

McKay also tied a season high with three blocks.

Cyclone Quick Hits
*Iowa State extended its non-conference home winning streak to 30 games, the second-longest streak in school history.
*Iowa State has hit a 3-pointer in 270 consecutive games.
*Monte Morris dished out six assists to give him 351 in his career, moving past his former head coach Fred Hoiberg to No. 10 on ISU's career assist list.
*Georges Niang scored 15 points to put him over the 1,600-point mark in career scoring at ISU.
*Iowa State has led at the half in all six games this season.
*Abdel Nader registered his seventh career 20-point game with 21 points.
*ISU shot 50 percent for the game, the fourth time this season ISU has made half of its shots in six games this season.
*ISU tied a season high with eight steals.

Up Next
Iowa State plays host to Buffalo on Dec. 7 at 8 p.m. The game is televised by ESPNU.

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Team Stats

Abdel Nader

Monte Morris

Jameel McKay

Georges Niang

Players Mentioned

Georges Niang

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