Iowa State Knocks Off Western Illinois, 59-44

AMES, Iowa - Jake Sullivan scored 19 points and Iowa State survived shaky shooting and ball handling to beat Western Illinois 59-44 Friday night in the first round of the Cyclone Classic.

Iowa State (4-0) improved to 14-1 in its tournament despite 23 turnovers and a second-half scoring drought. The Cyclones had only three baskets in the final 13 minutes and did not score after Tim Barnes hit a jumper with 3:30 remaining.

But Western Illinois (1-4) shot only 33 percent for the game and was outrebounded 39-25. The Leathernecks got no closer than 12 points in the second half despite Iowa State's struggles.

Barnes, Iowa State's point guard, finished with 14 points but committed nine turnovers after turning the ball over just once in the first three games. He had only one assist. Adam Haluska added 12 points for the Cyclones.

Luis Rivas led Western Illinois with 13 points and J.D. Summers scored 11.

Iowa State appeared on the verge of a blowout when Haluska's two free throws finished a 9-1 run that gave the Cyclones a 49-24 lead with 12:32 left. But then they started overpassing or going 1-on-1 and went the next 4:05 without a point.

With Rivas contributing six points, Western Illinois went on a 13-0 run to draw to 49-37 with 8:49 to play. But the Leathernecks managed only one basket the rest of the way and Iowa State held on.

Iowa State needed more than two minutes to get its first points, then quickly established itself.

Marcus Jefferson came off the bench to spark a 16-2 run that Iowa State finished with 10 straight points for a 19-6 lead. Jefferson had a tip-in, three defensive rebounds and a basket in the lane during that stretch.

Haluska's 3-pointer made it 25-11, and Sullivan had four points in a 9-0 run that made it 34-13 in the final minute of the opening half. It was 34-15 at halftime.

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Players Mentioned

Tim Barnes

Adam Haluska

Marcus Jefferson

Marcus Jefferson

Jake Sullivan

Jake Sullivan

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