Iowa State won a back-and-forth game in the Big 12 Tournament quarterfinals 91-85 today against Kansas State in Kansas City. The game that had 11 ties and eight lead changes. “It was a great game, especially if you like offense I guess. They are really tough to score on. I thought early on they gave us a little bit of trouble with the presser in the front court, but once we beat that front line, he had numbers in the back end,” Cyclone coach, Fred Hoiberg said on his postgame show.
The Cyclones outrebounded the Wildcats 38-29. “We felt that if we could control the glass — whoever won the glass would have a very good chance of winning the game. And that certainly showed true,” Hoiberg says. Big 12 player of the year, Melvin Ejim led the Cyclones with 24 points and 10 rebounds.
ISU had four others in double figures, including Dustin Hogue with 19 points, 10 rebounds. “He was terrific — and if you look at Dustin all year long — he’s been our dirt-working guy, he’s made all the big plays for us,” Hoiberg says. “He goes out and he rebounds and he defends every night. And he can score. It’s good to see him getting it going on the offensive end. He made some huge baskets when we needed them.”
Georges Niang had 18 points, Naz Long 14 points, and DeAndre Kane chipped in 11.Iowa State is now 24-7 and will play the winner of the Okalahoma State/Kansas game Friday at 6 p.m. in the semifinals.