Monday, January 18th, 2016

#19 IOWA STATE 82, #1 OKLAHOMA 77.

The Cyclones take down the #1 ranked team in the country!!

What a huge win for the Cyclones!!  Tonight marks just the second time in school history that Iowa State has defeated the #1 ranked team in the country (the first time was way back in 1957 against Kansas).  This was also an important game for Iowa State, who had slipped a bit in the polls after starting 1-3 in conference play.  The game tonight was very entertaining from start to finish.  Neither team committed many turnovers.  There were 18 ties or lead changes.  Oklahoma shot extremely well from three-point range (17-32 for 53%).  Despite the hot shooting by the Sooners, Iowa State was able to come out on top by winning the rebounding margin (43-32) and by scoring 20 more points in the paint than Oklahoma.  It really all came down to the last minute when a Monte Morris jumper gave Iowa State the lead 77-75 with 19 seconds left.  Iowa State was then able to get a stop and hit a few free throws to seal the win.

Mainly because of his last minute jumper, I would say that Morris was the player of the game for Iowa State.  He finished with 20 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists.  He was joined in double figures scoring for Iowa State by Georges Niang (22), Abdel Nader (20), and Matt Thomas (12).  Nader was clutch from the free throw line tonight, making 10 of 12.  Buddy Hield led all scorers with 27 points, including seven three-pointers.

Lets see.  Tonight is the fifth time that I have seen Iowa State play Oklahoma (the Cyclones are 4-1 in those games).  The previous years being: 2015, 2014, 2013, and back in 2003.  Tonight was also the ninth time that I have seen Iowa State play in a showdown of two top-25 teams (Iowa State is 8-1 in those games).  This was obviously the first time that I had seen Iowa State play a #1 ranked team.  Before tonight, the highest ranked opponent that I had seen Iowa State defeat was the #7 Michigan Wolverines back in 2013.

Jeremy Seago enjoyed the game with me tonight.

Wednesday, January 6th, 2016

Happy New Year!

I just got back from watching another Iowa State basketball game, this time a 76-69 victory over the Texas Tech Red Raiders.

It was not exactly the dominant performance that I was expecting out of the Cyclones, who came into the game ranked #13 in the country.  Part of that was probably due to the foul trouble that Georges Niang got into.  He hardly played in the first half and was scoreless at halftime.  Still, Iowa State played well enough to be in control for the entire game.  Matt Thomas was the player of the game for the Cyclones.  He scored a career high 22 points and connected on 6 three-pointers.  He was joined in double figures by teammates Jameel McKay (19), Georges Niang (14 in the second half), and Monte Morris (11).

This was the fourth time that I have watched Iowa State play (and defeat) Texas Tech.  The other times were: 2015, 2013, and 2012.

In non-basketball news, Elizabeth is now only about two and a half weeks out from her due date for baby #2 on January 25th!!  We're getting so close!

Dad came with me to a game for the third time this season.  Go State!