Nader 3-Pointer Takes No. 11 ISU Past Cincinnati

CINCINNATI – Abdel Nader 3-pointer with 11 seconds to go led No. 11 Iowa State to an 81-79 win over No. 22 Cincinnati Tuesday evening at Fifth Third Arena. The win improved the Cyclones to 10-1 on the season, while the Bearcats fall to 10-3.

Georges Niang led Iowa State with a double-double of 24 points and 10 rebounds. Niang led five Cyclones in double figures, with Monté Morris (16 points), Matt Thomas (13), Deonte Burton (12) and Nader (11) joining him above 10 points.

How it Happened
Iowa State ran off the first seven points of the game, five of which came from Monte Morris. In a game that was billed for ISU's offense against UC's defense, it was the visitor's defense that impressed early, holding the Bearcats without a point for the first 2:33 of the game. Led by Georges Niang, ISU was able to balloon its lead to 14-2 before the Cincinnati offense could get into a rhythm.

While the Bearcats were able to cut the deficit back to four at 22-18, ISU continued to get outstanding production from Niang and Monté Morris, who each got into double figures in the first 20 minutes. The supporting cast came through to help get ISU's lead over 10 again, with Deonte Burton draining a 3-pointer to make it 41-30.

Up 45-38 at the half, the Cyclones were again the better team out of the gates to start the half. ISU spread the ball across its options, with Matt Thomas, Abdel Nader, Niang and Morris all getting involved. It was Morris' 3-ball that upped the Cyclones to their biggest lead to that point at 55-42. The Bearcats were not down for long, as UC slowly chipped away at the ISU lead before cutting it to two at 64-62. Thomas came up with a pair of big 3-pointers to get the Cyclones back ahead 70-65.

Cincinnati would eventually get the breakthrough and take the lead, as a 6-0 run was capped by a Kevin Johnson jumper to give UC its first lead at 71-70. A Niang put-back cut the Bearcat lead to one at 75-74, but Troy Caupain drained a big 3-pointer at the top of the key to get Cincinnati its biggest lead of the evening at 78-74. Two possessions later, ISU knotted it at 78s when Niang drained a 3-ball from the left wing with 1:07 to go.

A Caupain free throw got UC back ahead at 79-78, but ISU re-took the lead as Nader drained an open corner 3-pointer to make it 81-79 Cyclones with 11 seconds to go. Cincinnati got a couple of final looks from 3-point range, but could not get anyting to go and ISU left victorious.

Cyclone of Note
Georges Niang was brilliant again. The senior was Iowa State's go-to guy throughout the game, as he helped set the tempo for Iowa State early and was one of the Cyclones' clutch players in crunch time. Niang also had one of his better evenings on the boards, as his 10 rebounds to go with 24 points game him his fourth career double-double.

He only recorded one assist, but it was the biggest one of the game, as he swung the ball to an open Abdel Nader in the right corner to help give Iowa State the win.

Cyclone Quick Hits
*The win over the No. 22 Bearcats marks Iowa State's 19th win over a ranked opponent across the last three seasons, the most in the NCAA across that time period.
*Monté Morris finished with 16 points, his 47th career game in double figures.
*Morris also had four steals, and now has 136 in his career to rank 13th in school history. In the game, he passed Barry Stevens, Terrence Allen and Julius Mikalik on ISU's all-time list.
*Matt Thomas recorded 13 points, his fourth game of the season over 10 points and 21st of his career.
*Thomas tied a career-high with four assists.
*Deonte Burton finished with 12 points, his first game as a Cyclone in double figures.
*Georges Niang finished with 24 points, his fourth game of the season over 20 points and 23rd of his career.
*Niang also recorded 10 rebounds for his second double-double of the season and fourth of his career.
*Niang made two 3-pointers to move up to 151 for his career. He is the sixth player in ISU history with over 150 treys, joining Jake Sullivan, Scott Christopherson, Dedric Willoughby, Fred Hoiberg and Naz Mitrou-Long.

Up Next
Iowa State returns to Hilton Coliseum next Wednesday, Dec. 30, to take on Coppin State. Tip will be at 7 p.m. on Cyclones.TV Powered by Mediacom.

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Team Stats

Georges Niang

Monte Morris

Matt Thomas

Deonte Burton

Players Mentioned

Deonte Burton

Georges Niang

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