NCAA News Wire
Iowa State 83, West Virginia 66
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
AMES, Iowa — The No. 15 Iowa State Cyclones kept attacking the rim. The West Virginia Mountaineers could do nothing to stop it.
It was the perfect recipe for an Iowa State 83-66 win Wednesday in a heated contest between the Big 12 foes.
The Cyclones got into an offensive rhythm early and it propelled them to their third-straight 10 win conference season, a program record.
Iowa State shot over 50 percent on the strength of getting buckets within a few feet of the basket. The Cyclones inside game opened up the 3-point shot, allowing them to make nine from distance.
Forward Georges Niang led the Cyclones with 24 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Guard DeAndre Kane had 17 points and 11 rebounds while forward Dustin Hogue chipped in with 15 points and nine rebounds.
Iowa State ran away from West Virginia in the second half thanks to a late 9-2 run. The Cyclones held the Mountaineers to 35.8 percent shooting.
West Virginia guard Juwan Staten scored 19 points. Guard Eron Harris added 15 points. The Mountaineers have now lost three straight games.
A 24-5 run fueled the Cyclones to a 39-33 halftime lead.
The Cyclones built a 28-14 lead midway through the half, using dribble penetration from Kane and guard Monte Morris as well as interior touches by Niang, forward Melvin Ejimi and Hogue to attack the rim.
The Mountaineers clawed back into it by closing the first half on a 7-2 run.
Iowa State came into Wednesday looking to avenge its worst loss of the season, 102-77 at West Virginia on Feb. 10, where things got chippy between the two squads. Hogue planted his foot into the midsection of West Virginia forward Kevin Noreen on a rebound attempt. Moments later, West Virginia guard Eron Harris slammed Iowa State guard Monte Morris’ head as he went for a layup. Hogue was assessed a Flagrant 1 and Harris was ejected and flagged with a Flagrant 2.
The chippiness between the teams continued Wednesday as bodies routinely landed on the floor and both teams had plenty of words for the other. West Virginia coach Bob Huggins picked up a first-half technical and Iowa State coach Fred Hoiberg laid into the refs early in the contest.
NOTES: Iowa State G DeAndre Kane was named the Big 12 newcomer of the week Monday. The West Virginia transfer averaged 21.0 points, 6.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists in two games last week. … West Virginia coach Bob Huggins entered Wednesday with 738 career wins. He is three wins away from tying John Chaney for 15th all-time on the NCAA Division I list.
