ISU Defeats Buffalo Behind Niang's Big Night

AMES, Iowa – Georges Niang recorded the first 30-10 game of his career, posting a career-high 31 points and tying his career high in rebounds (12) to pace No. 4 Iowa State (7-0) to an 84-63 win over Buffalo (4-5) Monday night in Hilton Coliseum.

After poor shooting in the first half (34.3 pct.), Iowa State broke open a close game by drilling 71.4 percent (20-28 FG) of its shots after intermission. The win tied Iowa State head coach Steve Prohm with the school record for best start (7-0) by a first-year head coach (Wayne Morgan, 2003-04).

Monte' Morris added 12 points and 10 assists, his third career double-double, and Jameel McKay chipped in with his eighth career double-double with 13 points and 10 caroms.

How it Happened
Buffalo held a 16-15 lead with 11:45 left in the first half until the Cyclones kicked on the afterburners. ISU went on a 15-0 run, all on 3-point plays, to move ahead 30-16. Niang canned a pair of triples and Nader hit one from distance and tallied an and-one, as the Cyclones went up 30-16 with 9:00 minutes remaining before intermission.

Both teams limped into the half, however. ISU went on a 6:20 scoring drought, but the Bulls couldn't get the lid off the basket either. After beginning the game making 7-of-14 from the field, Buffalo finished the half making just 3-of-19 shots from the floor.

ISU led at the break 34-25, making just 1-of-13 to end the opening period.

Buffalo started to heat up from the outside at the beginning of the second half. Jarryn Skeete drained a pair of 3-pointers and tallied 11 points in the first six minutes of the second period to cut the ISU lead to 47-44.

It was only a one-point ISU lead until an 11-0 Cyclone run provided the home team with some cushion at 58-46. Niang had five points and Matt Thomas buried a trey in the run.
The Cyclone lead never dipped below double figures the rest of the way.

Cyclone of Note
Georges Niang: The All-American was key to Iowa State's victory with his first 30-10 game of his career. Niang had a career-high 31 points and a career-high-tying 12 boards en route to his 22nd career game with 20+ points and his third career double-double. The senior was 10-of-16 from the field and 5-of-7 from downtown. His five treys and 10 field goals also tied career highs. It was Niang's second career 30-point game (Oakland, Nov. 14, 2014

Cyclone Quick Hits
*Iowa State extended its non-conference home winning streak to 31 games, the second-longest streak in school history.
*Iowa State has hit a 3-pointer in 273 consecutive games.
*Jameel McKay blocked two shots tonight to move into a tie for 11th on ISU's career blocks list with 71.
*Monte Morris had two steals to give him 124 and move him past Ron Bayless to No. 16 on ISU's career steals list.
*Morris recorded his sixth career game with 10 or more assists with 10 dimes.
*Steve Prohm tied the school record for best start by a first-year coach at 7-0 (Wayne Morgan, 2003-04).
*Naz Mitrou-Long made two 3-pointers. He's made a trey in all seven games this season.
*Georges Niang tallied 31 points, his 87th career game in double figures, 22nd career game with 20+ points and second career game with 30+ points.
*McKay tallied his 8th career double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. He has 10+ rebounds in five of seven games this season.
*ISU has scored 83 points or more in six-straight games for the first time since 1990.
*ISU had three players with double-doubles (Morris, Niang, McKay) for the first time since Nov. 9, 2012 (Will Clyburn, Percy Gibson, Niang).

Up Next
Iowa State plays host to Iowa on Dec. 10 at 6:30 p.m. The game is televised by ESPN2.

Next Event

Team Stats

Georges Niang

Jameel McKay

Monte Morris

Abdel Nader

Players Mentioned

Georges Niang

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics