Cyclones Upend Bethune-Cookman, 80-57

AMES, Iowa? Iowa State recorded a season-high 80 points in an 80-57 rout of Bethune-Cookman in the first round of the Findlay Toyota Las Vegas Classic in Hilton Coliseum Monday night. ISU, which improves to 5-4 on the season, shot 51.7 percent from the field, including a blistering 63.0 percent (17-27 FG) in the second half. Wesley Johnson recorded 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting to pace the Cyclones to victory.

"We did a better job of passing up a good shot for a great shot tonight," ISU head coach Greg McDermott said. "That was really encouraging to see."

ISU ran out to an early 18-8 lead with 12:32 left in the opening half. Johnson and Craig Brackins accounted for 14 of the Cyclones' first 18 points with Johnson tallying nine points on 4-of-5 shooting.

ISU's lead quickly shrunk when B-CU went on a 10-0 run to tie the game at 25-25 with 4:56 left before intermission. The Wildcats' Dominique Whatley had eight points in the run. ISU then responded by scoring the last 10 points of the half to take a 37-27 lead at intermission. Diante Garrett converted a steal into a lay-in and a floater in the closing seconds of the opening half to cap off the first half scoring.

ISU made it a 17-0 run by scoring the first seven points of the second half. Brackins made a bucket and Bryan Petersen buried a trey to give ISU a 44-27 lead with 18:35 left in the game.

ISU increased its lead to 22 points (55-33) at the 13:30 mark after Sean Haluska drilled a mid-range jumper. Back-to-back baskets by Jiri Hubalek gave the Cyclones their biggest lead of the game at 73-47 with 5:27 left in the contest.

Brackins finished the game with 13 points and a career-high four blocks. The freshman has seven blocks in the last two games. Cory Johnson came off the bench to tie a career high with 13 points, making all five shots from the floor.

"We moved the ball around pretty well today," Brackins said. "It felt better to actually hit some shots tonight, opposed to last game. Tonight I worried about the defensive end and helping my teammates."

ISU continued its improvement in taking care of the ball. The Cyclones committed just eight turnovers and had a positive assist/turnover ratio (19/8) for the fifth time in the last six games.

ISU plays host to Texas Southern Wednesday night at 7 p.m. in the second round of the Findlay Toyota Las Vegas Classic.

Game Notes
- ISU is now 14-1 against MEAC opponents.
- ISU is now 2-0 lifetime vs. Bethune-Cookman.
- ISU tallied a season-high 80 points.
- Rahshon Clark has made a 3-pointer in four-straight games.
- Craig Brackins has recorded a block in all nine games this season...he notched a career-high four blocks to raise his season total to 15...he has seven blocks in the last two games.
- ISU's 43 points scored in the second half is a season high.
- ISU had more assists (19) than turnovers (8) for the fifth time in the last six games.
- ISU has just 14 turnovers in the last two games.
- ISU tied a season high with seven treys.
- ISU had a season-high 19 assists.

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Team Stats

Wesley Johnson

Craig Brackins

Cory Johnson

Jiri Hubalek

Players Mentioned

Craig Brackins

Rahshon Clark

Rahshon Clark

Diante Garrett

Sean Haluska

Jiri Hubalek

Jiri Hubalek

Cory Johnson

Cory Johnson

Wesley Johnson

Wesley Johnson

Bryan Petersen

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics