Men's Hoops Wins Down the Stretch, 88-78

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Central Connecticut State's miracle comeback ended about six minutes too early.

All-American Marcus Fizer had 27 points and 11 rebounds and Jamaal Tinsley added 26 points as second-seeded Iowa State blew a big early lead before making a late run to beat the 15th-seeded Blue Devils 88-78 on Thursday in the Midwest Regional.

The Northeast Conference champions from New Britain, Conn., were making their first NCAA tournament appearance, and it nearly turned into one of the most shocking upsets in the tourney's history. Only three No. 2 seeds have ever lost a first-round game.

"If I had to go back and do it again, I'd pray we wouldn't draw that team," said Fizer, who was playing in his first tournament game. "They made a lot of big plays, and before we knew it, the game was tied.

"We were able to pull it out at the end, but were we satisfied with the way we played? Not at all. I'm disappointed in us."

Central Connecticut State (25-6) erased a 19-point first-half deficit with pinpoint shooting and easy drives through the porous Iowa State defense. As the Cyclones' lead evaporated, Fizer shouted angrily at his teammates and leveled a chair with a kick during a timeout.

"I was angry with the way we'd been playing defensively," Fizer said. "We didn't stop anybody for a long time."

Rick Mickens, the Northeast Conference player of the year, scored 17 of his 19 points in the second half. He hit a layup with 6:15 left that tied it at 69 and sent the Blue Devils' bench and small fan contingent into delirium.

But the shock awoke Iowa State (30-5), which immediately made a 12-0 run highlighted by two big jumpers from Michael Nurse, who had 16 points. The shaken Cyclones, who shot 60 percent from the floor but made 17 turnovers, then hit their free throws late and advanced to the second round to face Auburn.

Afterward, the Blue Devils weren't happy about playing a close game against one of the nation's top teams. Instead, they were angry that an opportunity for the biggest win in school history had slipped through their fingers.

"We didn't want to talk about David and Goliath or the Cinderella slipper or shocking the world," Central Connecticut State coach Howie Dickenman said. "We came here to win the basketball game."

Nurse hit big shots early for the Cyclones and again late, when the Blue Devils denied Fizer the ball. John Tice scored 21 points to lead Central Connecticut State, but he didn't have a basket in the game's final seven minutes.

Iowa State opened the game with a 26-8 run and led 31-15 by the time Fizer got his second basket of the game. Fizer then scored seven of the Cyclones' next eight baskets as they opened a comfortable lead.

Central Connecticut State made a 12-2 run to close the first half, highlighted by a desperation 3-pointer from Tomas Brookins at the buzzer. The Blue Devils stayed with the Cyclones throughout the second half, and Mickens keyed an 11-2 run that ended with his layup to tie the game.

In the postgame press conference, Dickenman spoke poignantly about Mickens and Victor Payne, his departing seniors. Payne covered his face with a towel to hide his tears.

"They took a chance on us, and I'm grateful," Dickenman said.

Thousands of fans wearing Iowa State red packed the Metrodome, with one girl holding a sign reading "This is Cyclone Country." The school's campus in Ames is less than 300 miles from Minneapolis.

"I'm glad we won, or there might have been a rope hanging over that tunnel as I was walking in," coach Larry Eustachy said.

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Players Mentioned

Marcus Fizer

Marcus Fizer

Michael Nurse

Michael Nurse

Jamaal Tinsley

Jamaal Tinsley

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