Iowa State Cyclones' Effort Falls Short at Fifth Third Arena Against Cincinnati Bearcats

The Iowa State Cyclones faced off against the Cincinnati Bearcats in a tightly contested game at Fifth Third Arena. The Cyclones, ranked 2nd, now hold a record of 0-1 after their 70-79 defeat to the Bearcats, who improved to 1-0. Despite a strong second half where they scored 39 points compared to their first half's 31, the Cyclones couldn't overcome the home team's lead.

First Half

The game began with both teams showcasing their defensive prowess. The Bearcats took an early lead with their effective field goal percentage of 44 percent and capitalized on fast break opportunities, scoring 13 points in transition. The Clones struggled initially but managed to keep pace thanks to Milan Momcilovic's impressive shooting performance from beyond the arc.

Second Half

In the second half, Iowa State showed resilience as they attempted a comeback. Cade Kelderman and Tamin Lipsey orchestrated plays that brought them within striking distance of Cincy’s lead. However, despite outscoring Cincinnati in points off turnovers with a total of 10 compared to Cincy's tally of only eight turnovers overall, it wasn't enough for ISU.

Key Moments

One pivotal moment came when Joshua Jefferson made crucial rebounds that kept possession alive for Iowa State during critical junctures in this period; however these efforts were countered by Cincy's bench strength contributing significantly through scoring depth which ultimately sealed victory for them.

As part of our post game analysis: while ISU demonstrated potential through individual performances such as Momcilovic’s shooting accuracy (57 percent from three-point range), team cohesion will be essential moving forward if they aim at improving results against future opponents like UCF Knights whom they'll face next week on January 20th at James H Hilton Coliseum located Ames IA scheduled start time being set around evening hours approximately starting around seven o'clock PM Eastern Daylight Time broadcasted live via CBS Sports Network channel available nationwide across America!

Stay tuned for more insights including exclusive Iowa State Cyclones post-game interviews capturing reactions directly following this matchup! Share your thoughts about how you think Clones can improve before facing upcoming challenges ahead!