Cyclones Surge Past Wildcats in a Show of Dominance at Hilton Coliseum
23-5 Iowa State Cyclones emerged victorious with a 78-67 win over the unranked Kansas State Wildcats, maintaining their strong season performance. The Cyclones showcased their prowess on home turf at the James H. Hilton Coliseum, where 14,267 fans witnessed a game devoid of lead changes but full of action.
The Cyclones' offense was firing on all cylinders as they put up an impressive 41 points in the first half and continued with a solid 37 points in the second. Their defensive efforts were equally notable, limiting the Wildcats to just 29 points in the first half and holding them off to secure their win despite Kansas State's improved scoring after halftime. Iowa State's balanced attack was evident with both teams dishing out 13 assists each, but it was their ability to capitalize on turnovers that made a significant difference; they scored 17 points off turnovers compared to Kansas State's 14.
Iowa State's tenacity on defense translated into ten steals over the course of the game, contributing to Kansas State’s total turnover count of 17. The Cyclones also dominated rebounding with a total of 38 rebounds—11 offensive and an impressive personal rebound tally of 34—compared to just six offensive rebounds for Kansas State. This advantage allowed Iowa State additional scoring opportunities which resulted in them notching up an extra three second-chance points than their opponents.
The free throw line was another area where Iowa State excelled; they shot at a commendable rate making good on nearly seven out of every ten attempts (69 percent), while Kansas state struggled slightly more from the charity stripe shooting at only sixty-five percent accuracy.
Both teams displayed similar shooting percentages from beyond the arc (33 percent) and from two-point range (Iowa state - fifty percent; Kansas state - fifty-six percent). However, it was Iowa state who managed to convert these shots into more field goals made overall due largely to having two additional attempts than their counterparts.
Looking ahead for Iowa state fans, anticipation builds as another conference game looms on January twenty-seventh when they face off against rivals—the Kansas Jayhawks—at twelve-thirty PM local time back here at James H. Hilton Coliseum in Ames, IA. This matchup promises excitement and will be broadcast nationally by CBS for fans unable to attend what is sure to be another captivating display by this formidable team.