The Iowa State Cyclones took an early lead and never gave it up to easily handle U-C-L-A 80-56 last night in the NCAA tournament semifinals at Auburn Hills, Michigan. Cyclone coach Larry Eustachy says they carried out their game plan perfectly.Iowa State took a 12-point lead into halftime and U-C-L-A never got closer than 11 points in the final 19 minutes of the game. Eustachy said he kept encouraging his team to continue playing hard with the lead because they’ve not close out games very well this year.Marcus Fizer, Michael Nurse and Stevie Johnson had 16 points each to lead the Cyclones. Fizer says the team was well prepared and executed things just the way they practiced.Point guard Jamaal Tinsley was one rebound away from a triple-double with 14 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds. Fizer says it isn’t suprising to see Tinsley step up his game, as he says the guard has a lot of talent.Fizer says the win again proves you can’t stop ISU by stopping him.The win was the first in seven tries for the Cyclones against U-C-L-A.I-S-U advances to the “Elite 8” and a meeting with Michigan State Saturday. Eustachy was asked what it will take to beat the top seeded Spartans. He replied, a case of food poisoning or four cases of the flu.The Cyclones have now won 10 straight games and are 32-4. With one more win they’ll advance to the the Final Four in Indianapolis.
