Cyclones Host Texas Tech Friday In Big 12 Opener

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AMES, Iowa - Iowa State (8-3, 0-0 Big 12) welcomes Texas Tech (11-1, 0-0 Big 12) Friday at 5 p.m. for the Big 12 opener for both schools.

Where: Ames, Iowa - Hilton Coliseum (14,384)
When: Friday, Dec. 30, 5 p.m. (CST)
Radio: Cyclone Radio Network/TuneIn Radio App
Talent: John Walters (PxP), Eric Heft (Color)
TV: ESPNews
Talent: Dave Armstrong (PxP), Kevin Lehman (Color)
Webcast: WatchESPN
Sirius/XM: 145/199/953 (internet)
Live Stats: Available at Cyclonestats.com

Game #12-Texas Tech
• ISU starts Big 12 play against Texas Tech in the earliest conference opener in school history...this is the first time ISU has played a conference game before Jan. 2...ISU and TTU are the only teams in Big 12 with four players averaging 12.0 points.
• The Cyclones are 9-11 all-time in Big 12 openers...ISU has won its opener the last two times it was played in Ames (2012, 2015)...the Cyclones lost last year's Big 12 opener at Oklahoma (87-83).

#CycloneNotes
• ISU opens the 21st season of Big 12 basketball at home...the Cyclones are 9-11 all-time in Big 12 openers, including 6-3 when playing at home.
• Iowa State has been a more defensive team this season, ranking among KenPom.com's top 50 in both adjusted offensive efficiency (46) and defensive efficiency (24)...the Cyclones are first in the Big 12 and seventh nationally in field-goal percentage defense (36.4 percent)...the highest the Cyclones have ranked in the Big 12 in FG percentage defense is third in 1996-97, the first season of Big 12 play.
• The Cyclones have allowed just four of 11 opponents to shoot above 40 percent from the field in a game...opponents are shooting just 39.0 percent on 2-point shots, which ranks fourth nationally.
• The offensive attack has had its highs and lows this season, but a common theme has been ball movement leading to success...in ISU's wins, the Cyclones have averaged 19.3 assists compared to just 9.0 assists in losses...in the wins, ISU has assisted on 55.4 percent of its made field goals...in losses, the number drops to 35.5 percent.
• Nazareth Mitrou-Long has found his stroke the last two games, averaging 28.0 points and making 20-of-28 field goals and 66.7 percent of his threes (14-for-21)...he filled up the scoresheet to the tune of a career-high 37 points against Drake...he hit 14-of-18 shots and 8-of-12 from behind the arc...the most 3-pointers made in a three-game stretch by any Cyclone was 19 by Dedric Willoughby (Feb. 5-9-12, 1997).
• Monté Morris ranks 33rd nationally in assists per game (5.7) and seventh in assist-to-turnover ratio (4.2)...Morris, who has 1,294 points, needs 20 points to pass Jeff Hornacek for 19th on ISU's scoring chart...last time out, he slid past Diante Garrett and into second at ISU with 614 assists...Morris has a 6.4 assist-to-turnover ratio in six games vs. Texas Tech.
• Iowa State is averaging 12.5 3-pointers made and shooting 42.7 percent behind the arc the last four games...in the first seven games, ISU averaged 7.0 threes per game and shot 32.0 percent...ISU is also averaging 18.0 assists per game in the last four contests.
• Donovan Jackson is 10-for-20 on 3-pointers the last four games...he's averaging 8.0 points in that stretch.
• It should come as no surprise, but Iowa State ranks among the nation's top teams in taking care of the basketball...the Cyclones average 10.5 turnovers per game, which is second in the Big 12 and 12th nationally...ISU's turnover percentage of 13.9 ranks fourth nationally.
• Iowa State boasts one of the most experienced teams in the nation...according to KenPom.com, ISU average experience is 2.58 years, which ranks fourth nationally...the Cyclones are one of four teams starting five seniors (NC Central, Little Rock, Jacksonville).
• The Cyclones moved Darrell Bowie into the starting lineup two games ago...Bowie is averaging 8.5 points and 6.5 rebounds...he leads the team's starters shooting 51.4 percent from the floor.

Iowa State Quick Hitters
• Iowa State has sold out 22 of the last 26 games at Hilton Coliseum...ISU is 19-3 at Hilton Coliseum under Prohm.
• ISU has been to a school-record five consecutive NCAA Tournaments...the Cyclones have made two Sweet 16 appearance in the last three seasons...ISU seeks to become the first school from the state of Iowa to reach six consecutive NCAA Tournaments.
• The Cyclones have won two of the last three Big 12 Tournament titles.
• ISU has won 20 games the last five seasons...Steve Prohm has won at least 20 games in each of his five seasons as a head coach...among current Big 12 coaches, only he, Texas coach Shaka Smart and TCU's Jamie Dixon accomplished that in their first five years as a head coach.
• Iowa State is one of 29 schools to win 20+ games the last five seasons...only 13 teams in the nation's top-six conferences (Big East, ACC, Big 12, Big Ten, Pac-12, SEC) have won 20+ games five consecutive seasons.
• The Cyclones have won at least 10 league games in each of the last five seasons, which is a school record.
• The Cyclones have won 37 of their last 41 games at home, including 18 of 21 league games.
• ISU has led the Big 12 in scoring the last four seasons, joining Kansas (2000-03) as the only teams to lead the league four consecutive seasons.
• The Cyclones are 24-6 under Prohm when committing less turnovers than their opponent...ISU has had fewer turnovers than its opponent in 10 of 11 games this season, including four games with less than 10 miscues.
• ISU's average possession length is 15.0 seconds, which ranks 20th nationally.
• Morris has 614 assists and 138 turnovers in 116 career games...ISU is 51-16 when Morris has at least five assists.
• Morris has 13 career games with 10 or more assists...his assist-to-turnover ratio in those games is 8.7 (139 assists/16 turnovers)...the rest of the Big 12 players have a combined six 10-assist games.
• Bowie is one of 15 players nationally that are averaging at least 8.0 points and 6.0 rebounds while playing 21.0 minutes per game or less.
• Iowa State has outrebounded its opponents in seven of 11 games this season...ISU is 7-0 this season and 17-3 under Prohm when outrebounding its opponent.
• ISU has held four of its first 11 opponents to 59 points or less this season after doing so just three times in 35 games last season.
• Burton is one of 11 players nationally averaging 12.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.0 blocks and 1.0 steals.
• Morris has one of 15 triple-doubles in the nation this season.
• Nick Weiler-Babb has 22 assists and just six turnovers..in his two collegiate seasons (freshman year at Arkansas), Weiler-Babb owns a 3.3 assist-to-turnover ratio.
• ISU's turnover margin is +4.8...last three seasons through 11 games: 2015-16:+3.2; 2014-15: +3.0; 2012-13: +0.1.
• ISU is ranked 321st nationally with just 189 free throws attempted (17.2 per game).
• 35.2 percent of ISU's field goal attempts have come from behind the arc, the lowest percentage since 2009-10 (29.9 percent).
• ISU's three starting guards (Morris, Thomas, Mitrou-Long) are shooting a combined 80.4 percent from the FT line (45-56)...Thomas has made 45 of his last 48 free-throw attempts.
• In games which he hits a 3-pointer, Donovan Jackson is averaging 9.0 points and shooting 52.8 percent (19-36) from the field and 53.8 percent (14-26) from 3-point range.
• The Cyclones have made 13 or more threes in three of the last four games...ISU has shot better than 40 percent behind the arc in two straight games for the first time this season.
• ISU's 36.7 percent 3-point shooting is its best through 11 games since the 2011-12 season (38.7%).
• ISU is one of 21 teams nationally (two in Big 12) with four players averaging at least 12.0 points.

Iowa State-Texas Tech Series Notes
• Iowa State and Texas Tech are meeting for the 30th time...ISU owns a 16-13 edge in the all-time series, including 11-3 in Ames (10-3 at Hilton Coliseum)...the Cyclones have won five consecutive meetings in Ames.
• The Cyclones and Red Raiders split the season series last season...ISU owns a 6-3 edge the last five years.
• Steve Prohm is 1-1 all-time against Texas Tech...he holds 1-0 record against TTU's Chris Beard, with Iowa State beating Little Rock, 78-61, in the second round of the NCAA Tournament last season in Denver.
• Texas Tech is one of four Big 12 schools that Iowa State owns a series edge with: Baylor (17-14), TCU (9-5) and West Virginia (5-3).
• ISU is 354-547 all-time against current Big 12 schools.

Last Time Out - Cyclones Roll Past Mississippi Valley State
• Iowa State shot 57.1 percent and held MVSU to just 34.8 percent shooting to win, 88-60, on Dec. 20 at Hilton Coliseum.
• Thomas scored a career-high 23 points to lead the Cyclones, while Mitrou-Long (19) and Morris (13) were also in double figures.
• The Cyclones had 21 assists on 32 field goals, including a career-best six from Donovan Jackson.
• ISU was 13-for-26 from behind the arc...Mitrou-Long connected on 6-of-9 threes.

LAST NIGHT | Iowa State used a career night from @Theiceman_21 to beat MVSU in final Big 12 tuneup. https://t.co/g5CmE6NbJE pic.twitter.com/B6jUMrWtCr
— Cyclone Basketball (@CycloneMBB) December 21, 2016

Cyclones Host Texas Tech Friday In Big 12 Opener

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Darrell Bowie

Donovan Jackson

Nazareth Mitrou-Long

Nick Weiler-Babb

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Cyclones Host Texas Tech Friday In Big 12 Opener

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Darrell Bowie

Donovan Jackson

Nazareth Mitrou-Long

Nick Weiler-Babb

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