Can the Cyclones' Paint Dominance Overwhelm Wildcats' Perimeter Shooting?
The Iowa State Cyclones, with a record of 0-0, faced off against the Kansas State Wildcats, who came into the game ranked 15th with their own record of 0-0. The contest concluded with a scoreline favoring the Cyclones at 82-76.
The game was held at Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan, where both teams showcased their strengths in front of an attendance of 5,340 fans. The Cyclones demonstrated a robust inside game, outscoring the Wildcats in points in the paint by a significant margin—46 to 28. This inside dominance was complemented by an efficient shooting performance from two-point range where they shot an impressive 55 percent.
The Cyclones also excelled on defense and on the glass. They grabbed a total of 47 rebounds compared to just 30 for Kansas State, including securing more offensive boards (11) which led to critical second-chance opportunities resulting in 12 additional points. Despite being out-assisted by Kansas State's playmakers—who tallied up to 21 assists—the Cyclones managed to distribute well among themselves with a total of 16 assists.
Turnovers were an area where both teams had room for improvement; however, it was Iowa State that capitalized more effectively on these opportunities. They scored twelve points off turnovers while limiting their opponents to eighteen points from similar situations.
From beyond the arc, Iowa State shot at a modest rate making five out of fifteen attempts which translated into a three-point shooting percentage of approximately thirty-three percent. Free throw accuracy stood at sixty-nine percent as they made eleven free throws from sixteen attempts.
One key statistic that stood out was steals; Iowa State recorded eight steals over Kansas State's eleven but managed to keep personal fouls lower than their opponents (17 compared to Kansas State's fourteen), showing disciplined defensive efforts without compromising aggression.
Looking ahead after this hard-fought victory over Kansas State Wildcats, fans can anticipate another exciting matchup as the Iowa State Cyclones will host Cincinnati Bearcats at James H. Hilton Coliseum located in Ames on March second at two o'clock PM local time (Central Time). Fans eager not to miss any action can tune into this upcoming encounter live from James H. Hilton Coliseum or follow broadcasts scheduled for that day.