Upcoming Event: Men's Basketball at Creighton (Exhibition) on October 17, 2025 at 7:30 PM
7:30 PM
Men's Basketball
Creighton (Exhibition)
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Iowa State University Athletics
Saturday, March 19
Denver, Colo.
5:10 PM
Iowa State University
23-11
78
vs
61
Little Rock
30-5
1
2
F
Little Rock
28
33
61
Iowa State
40
38
78
Cyclones Advance To Sweet 16; Topple Trojans, 78-61
03.19.2016 | Men's Basketball
DENVER, Colo. –No. 4-seed Iowa State (23-11, 10-8 Big 12) stormed past No. 12-seeded Arkansas Little-Rock (30-5, 17-4 Sun Belt) to earn its second trip to the Sweet 16 in the last three seasons as it downed the Trojans, 78-61.
The 22nd-ranked Cyclones shot 56.6 percent from the field for the second-straight game to cruise past the Trojans. The Cyclones also hit double-digit triples (11) for the third-straight game and netted 52.4 percent from deep.
Two-time All-American Georges Niang led Iowa State in scoring for the fourth-straight game with a game-high 28 points and six rebounds. His 28 points puts him at 688 on the season, which ranks seventh in school history.
How it Happened
Iowa State started off hot going 5-of-6 from the floor to take an early 13-5 lead, as four different Cyclones put points on the board. Little Rock responded with a 6-0 run of its own to come within two of ISU, 13-11. Niang halted the Trojans' run with a quick five points to put ISU ahead 18-11. Iowa State and Little Rock kept things close for much of the first half, but the Cyclones went on a 10-0 run forcing a Trojan timeout. In the run, Niang exploded, scoring the first eight points as Iowa State marched out to a 36-24 lead, its largest at the time.
Iowa State would continue to pile on the points, entering the locker room with a 40-28 halftime lead. Niang led all scorers netting 17 points at the half off 7-of-11 shooting and a perfect 3-of-3 from long range. Niang was the only player in double figures at the half. Iowa State shot 53.6 percent in the first half and netted seven triples off 58.3 percent shooting. Iowa State's 40 first-half points marked just the third time this season the Trojans gave up 40 or more first-half points.
The Cyclones would stretch their lead to 20 after an 11-0 run that was capped by a 3-pointer by Hallice Cooke and a pair of freebies by Niang. Niang's free throws gave him 21 on the afternoon, pushing him past Barry Stevens (2,190) for second all-time in school history for career points. Iowa State held onto its lead to advance to its second Sweet 16 in the last three seasons with a 78-61 win over Arkansas-Little Rock.
Cyclone Quick Hits
*Iowa State is now 1-0 against Arkansas-Little Rock.
*Iowa State is 20-2 when holding its opponents under 80 points.
*Iowa State is 20-3 when leading at the half this season.
*The Cyclones have shot better than their opponent in 27 of 34 games and are 20-7 when shooting better than their opponent.
*Iowa State is now 10-5 while playing in the Midwest Region in NCAA tournament play.
*Matt Thomas hit a 3-pointer for the 24th-straight game, the third-longest streak in Iowa State program history.
*Thomas now has 12 triples in his career in the NCAA Tournament, which ranks third in school history.
*Thomas is now up the 87 3-pointers on the season, which is tied for the sixth-highest single-season total in ISU history.
*Thomas posted 16 points, his 20th game of the season in double figures and 37th of his career.
*Georges Niang passed Jeff Grayer for the second-most starts by a Cyclone in program history with his 125th career start.
*Niang now has 185 3-pointers in his career, which passes Fred Hoiberg (183) for fourth in school history.
*Niang moved past Jeff Grayer for second in ISU history with 90 career points in the NCAA tournament.
*With 11 field goals vs. the Trojans, Niang is now ISU's leader in with 47 field goals made in the NCAA Tournament.
*Morris is third all-time in school history with 26 assists in the NCAA Tournament.
Up Next
Iowa State takes on the winner of the Virginia-Butler game on Friday, March 25 in Chicago. The time and television station have yet to be announced.
Team Stats
LR
ISU
FG%
.370
.566
3FG%
.320
.524
FT%
.813
.438
RB
32
31
TO
8
6
STL
1
6
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
28
FGM
11
3FGM
3
FTM
3
Pts
16
FGM
6
3FGM
4
FTM
0
Pts
9
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
G
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