Iowa State Cyclones Dominate the Paint to Overcome West Virginia Mountaineers at Hilton Coliseum
The Iowa State Cyclones, with a record of 0-0, faced off against the 24th-ranked West Virginia Mountaineers, standing at 0-0. In a display of offensive efficiency and defensive resilience, the Cyclones emerged victorious with a final score of 74-64.
From the onset, the Cyclones set a tone of aggression in their home venue, James H. Hilton Coliseum. Despite trailing by two points after the first quarter and entering halftime down by five points, they maintained composure and executed their game plan effectively. The third quarter saw them narrowing the gap before an explosive fourth quarter where they outscored their opponents by eighteen points.
A critical aspect of Iowa State's success was their dominance inside; they scored 36 points in the paint compared to West Virginia's 22. This interior strength was complemented by an impressive shooting performance from two-point range where they shot an outstanding 56 percent. Moreover, free throws were nearly automatic for Iowa State as they capitalized on these opportunities with a remarkable accuracy rate of 90 percent.
The Cyclones also showcased their rebounding tenacity by securing a total of 45 rebounds—30 defensive and eleven offensive—which contributed to seventeen second-chance points. Their ability to maintain possession was further evidenced by only committing two team turnovers throughout the contest.
West Virginia Mountaineers put up a valiant effort despite falling short on this occasion. They demonstrated quick hands on defense leading to fourteen steals and converted those into twenty-five points off turnovers—a notable statistic that kept them competitive throughout much of the game.
Looking ahead for fans of Iowa State Cyclones is another opportunity to support their team when they host Baylor Bears at James H. Hilton Coliseum in Ames on January 13th at noon Central Time (1:00 PM Eastern Time). The game will be broadcasted online via ESPN+, allowing fans not able to attend in person another way to follow along as these teams compete on court.