Iowa State hit only 28% in the second half as the Cyclones suffered a stunning 65-58 loss to a South Dakota State team that entered the game with a 5-8 record. Craig Brackins led the Cyclones with 18 points and Lucca Staiger added 12 as ISU shot only 37 percent for the game and committed 16 turnovers.
Iowa State coach Greg McDermott did not see it coming. McDermott says they had what were arguably their two best practices of the year prior to the game, but when the game started, they just didn’t have it. He says players were not in the right position, were going to the wrong spots, and it was "disheartening."
Iowa State falls to 7-4 and McDermott says the Cyclones have been plagued by inconsistent play. He says there’s times when they have really defended and rebounded well and played well offensively, but there are also times when it looks like they’ve never practiced. McDermott says it’s up to the coaches to keep working to get them to be more consistent. The Cyclones return to action Sunday at Houston.