Box Score Dec. 2, 2014 Box Score
AMES, Iowa - The nationally ranked Iowa State Cyclones shot 69 percent from the field in the second half to pull away from a youthful Lamar Cardinals team Tuesday night for a 96-59 decision. The Cardinals led Iowa State by three late in the opening half before the Cyclones went on a 16-0 run to take double-digit lead.
"We had a pretty good plan coming into tonight, and for the first 12 minutes of the first half, I thought we stuck with that plan," said head coach Tic Price. "But in the second half, we got punched in the mouth and we didn't respond. This is one of the best teams in the country but we have to be able to respond to situations like this. The important thing is to learn from this, and get better as we prepare for UTPA."
Lamar knocked down two of its first three attempts on the night to take an early 4-0 lead over their hosts. It took Iowa State more than three minutes to get on the scoreboard, but they were able to score the game's next seven points. The 7-0 run was aided by the fact that Lamar missed their next six attempts, a skid that ended with a LeMon Gregory basket.
The Cardinals reclaimed a one-point advantage following a Zjori Bosha three-pointer at the 14:13 mark of the opening half. Following the triple, the Cardinals were able to keep the game close not allowing the Cyclones to gain any more than a four-point advantage for the next 8:40.
Junior Dontavious Sears gave the Cardinals back a three-point lead when he buried a jumper with 8:34 remaining in the opening half, and that is when the flood gates open against Lamar. The Cyclones answered the Sears' three-pointer with a 16-0 run to take 33-20 lead with just over four minutes remaining in the half.
Lamar once again turned to Gregory to end the scoring drought as he knocked down another layup. The Angelina College transfer finished the night with a career-high 13 points, on 6-of-9 shooting, Lamar would go into the locker trailing 38-22.
The Cardinals didn't back away knocking down 4 of their first 5 attempts in the second half, but were unable to make a dent in the deficit as ISU also converted on four of its first five.
The Cyclones never cooled off in the second half connecting on 20-of-29 (.690) in the final 20 minutes, including nine three-point field goals. The Cyclones success from the field, and 27 LU turnovers overshadowed the Cardinals strong second-half shooting performance. Big Red was 14-of-27 (.519) from the floor in the final 20 minutes, including a 5-of-10 showing from beyond the arc.
Iowa State made Lamar pay for every turnover it committed scoring 44 points off the Lamar miscues, while the Cards could manage only six points off the nine Iowa State turnovers.
Iowa State finished the night with five players in double figures, led by Matt Thomas' 14 points. Bryce Dejean-Jones added 12, while pulling down 10 rebounds.
Gregory led Lamar with his 13 points, while Bosha came off the bench to score 11 on 3-of-6 shooting from beyond the arc. Sears added 10 points. Senior Donovan Ross pulled down a team-high eight rebounds for Lamar, which outrebounded ISU, 39-33.
The Cardinals return to action Saturday, Dec. 13, when they travel to Edinburg, Texas, to take on UTPA. The game against the Broncs is slated to tipoff at 7 p.m. from the UTPA Fieldhouse.
-LAMAR-
