Cyclones' Efforts Fall Short Against Sharp-Shooting Cougars at Marriott Center
The Iowa State Cyclones, ranked 24th, faced a challenging contest against the 20th-ranked Cougars, culminating in a score of 87-72. The Cyclones now stand with their record reflecting the intensity of the season's competition. Despite a hard-fought battle, the Cougars outpaced them to secure another victory in their campaign.
The game unfolded at the Marriott Center where fans witnessed an intense matchup. The Cyclones opened with determination, scoring 35 points in the first half and adding another 37 in the second. However, it was not enough to overcome their opponents who tallied 39 and then surged ahead with an additional 48 points after halftime.
Iowa State showcased notable efforts on both ends of the court. They fought for every ball leading to a total rebound count of 34 compared to BYU's 36. Offensively, they managed to convert nearly half of their two-point attempts with a shooting percentage of around forty-nine percent from inside the arc and scored thirty-four points in paint which underscored their aggressive play under the basket.
Defensively, Iowa State registered three blocks and four steals but struggled to contain BYU's fast-paced offense which resulted in twenty-one fast break points for their opponents. The Cyclones also committed seventeen personal fouls over the course of action-packed three hours and twenty minutes.
One area where Iowa State excelled was capitalizing on second-chance opportunities by scoring fifteen second chance points thanks largely due to eleven offensive rebounds they grabbed during critical moments of play.
Despite these efforts, turnovers proved costly for Iowa State as they gave up possession thirteen times which translated into ten points off turnovers for BYU. In contrast, BYU capitalized more effectively on turnovers netting seventeen points from such instances.
The Cougars' sharpshooting from beyond the arc was also pivotal; they made thirteen three-pointers at thirty-seven percent accuracy while Iowa State managed only four successful shots from downtown at twenty-nine percent accuracy.
Looking ahead after this tough encounter away from home soil against Brigham Young University (BYU), fans can mark their calendars for when Iowa State Cyclones take on TCU Horned Frogs next at Schollmaier Arena located in Fort Worth TX on January 20th scheduled for a tip-off time at noon Central Time Zone (1:00 PM Eastern Time). This upcoming game will be broadcast nationally on ESPNU channel two hundred eight ensuring supporters won't miss any action regardless where they are.