Iowa State Topples Texas Tech On The Road, 31-13

LUBBOCK, Texas – Iowa State recorded its fourth-straight road win for the first time since the 1960-61 season with a 31-13 victory over Texas Tech, spoiling the Red Raiders' Homecoming. The Cyclones improve to 5-2 overall and 3-1 in Big 12 play for the first time since the 2002 season.

Iowa State's 31 points also marked the sixth time in the last seven games the Cyclones scored 30 or more.

Keys of the Game
In the first stanza, the two squads traded touchdowns early, but a missed extra point by Texas Tech gave ISU a 7-6 edge before the Cyclone defense took over, forcing two fumbles for the first time since 2014 against West Virginia. The takeaways resulted in 10 points for the Cyclones, giving ISU a 17-6 edge over the Red Raiders.

A missed field goal by Texas Tech gave the Cyclones the ball back on their own 20 as they engineered a 10-play, 80-yard drive to go ahead 24-6 at the half after a three-yard strike from Kyle Kempt to Matthew Eaton.

With the Red Raiders threatening to make it a one-score game (24-13), Marcel Spears intercepted a pass by Texas Tech's Nic Shimonek and took it to the house for a 61-yard pick six. The touchdown put Iowa State up 31-13, silencing the Texas Tech crowd and putting the game out of reach in the fourth quarter.

In the win, the Cyclone defense held a Red Raider offense that was averaging 44.8 points per game to their lowest output of the season.

Players of Note….
Kempt, making his third-career start, was 22-for-32 for 192 yards and three touchdowns, tying his career high. His 27-yard scramble also was the longest rush by an ISU quarterback this season.

D'Andre Payne and Willie Harvey were each credited with fumble recoveries with Ja'Quan Bailey and Vernell Trent forcing the fumbles. Bailey and Trent's forced fumbles were both the second of their career.

David Montgomery logged 164 yards on the ground for his third 100-yard game of the season and fifth of his career. Montgomery broke away for a career-long 58-yard rush late in the fourth quarter.

Defensively it was Willie Harvey and Joel Lanning led the way 14 tackles apiece. Lanning tallied his fourth game with double-digit stops this season.

Cyclone Quick Hits
*Iowa State has won three-straight conference games for the first time since 2011.

* The ISU defense has three interception returns for touchdowns this season, all by different players (Spears, Harvey, Cotton-Moya).
*Matt Eaton set a career highs in touchdowns (two) and receptions (five).
*Willie Harvey set a career high with 14 tackles.

*Montgomery's 164 yards on the ground was a season-high.

*Lanning now has 923 career rushing yards, tying Bret Meyer for fifth among modern-era quarterbacks in ISU history.

*Marchie Murdock tied his career highs in both receptions (four) and yards (68).

Up Next
Iowa State returns to Jack Trice Stadium on October 28 to face No. 4 TCU on homecoming. The game will air at 2:30 p.m. and will be televised on ABC, ESPN or ESPN2.

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Team Stats

Kyle Kempt

Players Mentioned

Matthew Eaton

Willie Harvey

Kyle Kempt

Joel Lanning

David Montgomery

Marchie Murdock

D'Andre Payne

Vernell Trent

Players Mentioned

Matthew Eaton

Willie Harvey

Kyle Kempt

Joel Lanning

David Montgomery

Marchie Murdock

D'Andre Payne

Vernell Trent

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics