Cyclones Win First NIT Game in School History

AMES, Iowa - Jake Sullivan scored 23 points and Tim Barnes hit four 3-pointers to lead a 16-3 second-half run that carried Iowa State to a 76-65 victory over Wichita State in the NIT on Wednesday night.

Barnes finished with 21 points and Marcus Jefferson added 13 for the Cyclones (17-13), who'll host Iowa in the next round on Friday night. Iowa advanced with a 62-60 victory over Valparaiso on Monday.

Iowa State and Iowa have met 55 times but never in the postseason. The Cyclones won the regular-season game 73-69 at Iowa on Dec. 13.

Wichita State (18-12) led throughout the first half and was up 40-35 with less than 17 minutes remaining. Then Barnes got hot.

He hit a 3 to cut the lead to 40-38, then raced up the court, stopped and fired in a 3-pointer from NBA range to give Iowa State its first lead, 41-40. After Jamar Howard scored to put Wichita State back on top, Barnes made a 3-pointer from the left wing and followed with another from the left side to make it 49-43.

Sullivan hit a tough fadeaway with 10:41 left for a 51-43 lead and Iowa State was in control the rest of the way.

Paul Miller led Wichita State with 18 points and Fridge Holman scored 13. Randy Burns, the Shockers' leading scorer with a 15.2 average, was held to five in the first half and didn't get his first points of the second half until making a 3 with 6:11 remaining.

Burns finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

After trailing by as many as 10, Wichita State drew to 67-61 on Miller's putback with 1:16 to play and had a chance to get closer after Barnes missed two free throws. But Barnes stole the ball back and made a layup with 41.6 seconds left, putting the Cyclones up 69-61.

Iowa State finished off by making 7-of-8 free throws. When Jefferson went to the line with 29.8 seconds left, fans began chanting "Beat the Hawks," referring to the game with Iowa.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Tim Barnes

Tim Barnes

Tim Barnes

Marcus Jefferson

Marcus Jefferson

Marcus Jefferson

Marcus Jefferson

Jake Sullivan

Jake Sullivan

Jake Sullivan

Jake Sullivan

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics