Can the Cyclones' Precision from Beyond the Arc Overcome Jayhawks' Paint Dominance?
In a closely contested battle at James H. Hilton Coliseum, the Iowa State Cyclones edged out a victory over the Kansas Jayhawks with a final score of 79-75. The Cyclones now hold an impressive 23-7 record, while the Jayhawks fall to 7-23. The game was marked by ten lead changes and was tied five times, indicating how evenly matched and competitive both teams were throughout.
The Iowa State Cyclones showcased their sharpshooting skills, particularly from three-point range where they excelled with a remarkable 47 percent accuracy, converting 14 shots from beyond the arc. This outside shooting efficiency proved crucial in their offensive strategy against a tough Kansas defense. The Cyclones also demonstrated their defensive capabilities by blocking five shots and making eight steals which contributed to their nine fast break points.
The home team capitalized on turnovers, scoring 15 points off of Kansas' twelve turnovers while only giving up nine points from their own eleven mishaps. Their ball distribution mirrored that of their opponents with both teams registering eighteen assists; however, Iowa State maintained a slightly better assist-to-turnover ratio at 1.8 compared to Kansas’ ratio of 1.5.
On the other hand, despite falling short on the scoreboard, the Jayhawks dominated inside with an impressive tally of thirty-six points in paint compared to twenty-four by Iowa State. They also outrebounded Iowa State with forty rebounds overall including eleven offensive boards which led them to secure eleven second-chance points.
As for individual performances for Iowa State that stood out: players who took charge in sinking critical three-pointers and those who played key roles in defensive stops would have had significant impact on this tight game's outcome.
Looking ahead for fans of the Cyclones: The team is scheduled to face off against Baylor Bears at Foster Pavilion in Waco on February 3rd at 7:00 PM Central Time Zone (CT). This upcoming contest will be broadcasted nationally on ESPN2 channel two hundred nine for fans wishing to follow along as Iowa State continues its campaign through this season's matchups.