ISU Gains 20th Win In Victory Over Kansas State

AMES, Iowa – Matt Thomas scored 20 points and buried five 3-pointers to lead No. 17 Iowa State (20-9, 9-7 Big 12) to an 80-61 win over Kansas State (15-14, 4-12 Big 12) Saturday night in Hilton Coliseum.

Thomas, who recorded his second 20-point game of his career, had help from Georges Niang, who tallied 17 points and 7-of-9 shooting from the field. Jameel McKay added 14 points and 17 rebounds for his sixth double-double of the season. Hallice Cooke came off the bench to score 10 points.

The Cyclones shot above 50 percent (54.7 pct.) from the field for the sixth-straight game and reached 20 wins in a season for a school-record fifth-straight season. ISU was 17-of-26 from the field (65.4 percent) in the second half.

How it Happened
After falling behind early, the Cyclones bounced back with a 13-0 run to take a 21-14 lead with 9:19 left in the first half. Niang started the run with a trey and ended it with a score down low.

Seven-straight points by the Wildcats tied the game at 21-21, and then Niang picked up his second foul and was sent to the bench. ISU went into the break with a 31-30 lead after Monte' Morris buried a 3-pointer at the buzzer.

Thomas hit a pair of 3-pointers in the first five minutes of the second period to help the Cyclones go up 45-39. Thomas kept making jumpers, and after a Deonte Burton dunk, the Cyclones led 60-45 with 10:02 left in the game.

KSU then rattled off seven-straight points to close the gap to under 10 points (60-52), but a McKay dunk and a Morris steal and lay-in pushed the Cyclone lead to 64-52 with 6:15 remaining in the game. Again the lead shrink down to six points after a 6-0 KSU run, but a Cooke trey and a McKay dunk gave the Cyclones breathing room and a 70-59 lead.

Cyclone of Note: Matt Thomas. Thomas' hot shooting in the second half helped the Cyclones break open a close game tonight. Thomas had 13 points and made 3-of-4 shots from downtown in the second half. Thomas, who notched his second career 20-point game with 20 points, fell a trey shy of his record for 3-pointers in a game with five.

Cyclone Quick Hits
*ISU is 13-2 at home this season and is 75-7 in Hilton Coliseum in the last five seasons.
*Georges Niang had 17 points tonight, reaching double figures in scoring for the 38th consecutive game, the fifth-longest streak in school history.
*Niang played in his 95th victory as a Cyclone, the most in school history.
*Niang is 66-of-110 from the field (60 pct.) and averaging 20.3 points in his last eight games.
*Niang grabbed two rebounds to give him 672 in his career to tie for 14th all-time in school history.
*Matt Thomas, who made five 3-pointers, has made a 3-pointer in 19-straight games, the seventh-best streak in school history.
*Thomas now ranks seventh in school history with 150 career 3-pointers made.
*Thomas' 74 3-pointers made this season ties for 11th on ISU's season list.
*Jameel McKay recorded his sixth double-double of the season with 14 points and 17 rebounds.
*Iowa State shot 50 percent (54.7) or better from the field for the sixth-straight game.

Up Next
Iowa State remains at home to face Oklahoma State (Feb. 29) on Monday. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. on ESPNU.

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Team Stats

Matt Thomas

Georges Niang

Jameel McKay

Monte Morris

Players Mentioned

Deonte Burton

Hallice Cooke

Georges Niang

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics