Cyclones Hold Off Nebraska, 65-53

AMES, Iowa ?Iowa State outscored Nebraska 10-0 in the final 2:12 of the game to post a 65-53 win Wednesday night in Hilton Coliseum. Craig Brackins tallied his seventh double-double of the season (21 points/12 rebounds) and Lucca Staiger nailed six 3-pointers en route to 18 points to help ISU end its seven-game losing streak to league opponents.

The Cyclones held a 13-point lead early in the second half but held off the Huskers, who came back to tie the game with 6:30 left, to improve its record to 12-5 overall and 1-1 in Big 12 play. The win was the 100th against Nebraska in the series.

Complete Post-Event Coverage
Final Stats Notes Halftime: Cy's Evolution of Dance		Quotes Photo Album Newsconference Game Highlights

"We had some guys step up and knock down shots today," ISU head coach Greg McDermott said. "I was very pleased with the way Lucca has been playing. He can stretch the floor very far, and can shoot a guarded 3-point shot. There aren't a lot of guys that can do that."

The lead changed hands five times in the first nine minutes, as NU held a 13-12 lead with 11:07 remaining in the opening period. The Cyclones then rattled off 13-straight points to go ahead 25-13 with just under seven minutes left in the first period. Three consecutive 3-point plays, one each from Staiger and Jamie Vanderbeken from beyond the arc, and a conventional 3-point play from Brackins helped the Cyclones move ahead.

NU's Toney McCray canned a trey to cut the lead to 27-17, as ISU went nearly five minutes without a field goal. Brackins then finally ended the ISU drought with a dunk to put ISU back up by 12.

It looked like the Huskers would go into the break with the deficit under double digits after Ade Dagunduro scored and was fouled in the paint to make it a 29-20 ISU lead with 0:09 seconds left. However, Bryan Petersen answered with a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the Cyclones a 32-20 lead at the half. NU shot just 25.8 percent in the opening period.

ISU turned the ball over in three of its first four possessions of the second period, as the Huskers crept closer at 32-26 with 17:48 remaining in the game. ISU then scored seven-straight points, capped off by a 3-pointer from Staiger to allow the Cyclones to go back up by 13 (39-26) with 15:07 left.

The lead quickly went down to two points (41-39) after the Huskers went on a 13-2 run. NU picked up the full court pressure and the Cyclones struggled taking care of the ball, turning the ball over on numerous possessions to let the Huskers back into the game.

Brackins finally got the Cyclones back on the board with two-straight baskets to make it 45-39, but Paul Velander hit back-to-back treys to tie the game at 45-45 with 6:30 left in the game. ISU then got a big 3-pointer from Staiger followed by a Thompson tip-in after a missed free-throw from Garrett to push ISU back up by five points (50-45) with 4:52 remaining.

The Huskers kept fighting, however, getting a 3-pointer from Sek Henry to cut the lead to two points (50-48) with 3:52 remaining. It was still a two-point game at 55-53 after both teams traded baskets. ISU then went on its 10-0 run to seal the game with two buckets by Brackins and a key 3-pointer from Staiger, his sixth of the game.

Brackins recorded his ninth 20-point game of the season and his seventh double-double in the last 12 games, including three-straight. Garrett added six points and nine dimes in the win. ISU held NU to 34.5 percent from the floor, as ISU is now 12-0 on the season when shooting better than its opponent. The Cyclones also outboarded NU, 42-28, the second-straight opponent has outrebounded.

Iowa State will be back in action Saturday at Missouri. Tip is slated for 12:45 p.m.

Next Event

Team Stats

Craig Brackins

Lucca Staiger

Diante Garrett

Sean Haluska

Players Mentioned

Craig Brackins

Craig Brackins

Craig Brackins

Bryan Petersen

Bryan Petersen

Lucca Staiger

Lucca Staiger

Lucca Staiger

Jamie Vanderbeken

Jamie Vanderbeken

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics