Steve Prohm (file photo)
The 19th-ranked Cyclones held on to down number one rated Oklahoma 82-77 last night in Ames. The Cyclones had started the Big 12 season at 1-3, but their coach says they haven’t stopped trying to improve.
“They all stuck together and it just shows their character and I am proud of the way they hung together and have gotten better,” Coach Steve Prohm says. He says if they hang together they can do “special things.”
Prohm says they have to keep playing hard and move on to the next game. “You can’t live in highs and lows, this league is too good. You look at Oklahoma, they’ve got to go to Baylor now. We’ve got to go on the road to TCU. TCU lost to Kansas by 7. You’ve just got to stay in the moment, ” Prohm says.
Georges Niang had 22 points and Iowa State hit 6 free throws in a row in the final 9 seconds. Monte Morris and Abdel Nader each had 20 points, and Matt Thomas added 12.
It was the first win by the Cyclones over a top-rated team since January 14th of 1957 against Kansas. It is the third win over a number one team for the basketball programs in the state. UNI beat North Carolina in November, Iowa beat Michigan State in December and now the Cyclones’ win in Ames.
Iowa State is now 14-4 overall and 3-3 in the Big 12.