Iowa State Downs Louisiana-Monroe, 68-40

[Jeremy]

Iowa State Downs Louisiana-Monroe, 68-40
Media Relations

AMES, Iowa—Iowa State held Louisiana-Monroe to 27.3 percent shooting from the field and out rebounded the Warhawks, 48-27, en route to a 68-40 win Saturday night in the second round of the American Family Insurance BTI Cyclone Challenge. It marked the first time ISU held an opponent to under 28 percent shooting from the field since Arkansas-Pine Bluff shot 24.2 percent vs. ISU on Dec. 4, 2001.

"We defended for 40 minutes tonight and because of who we are, defense and rebounding are going to give us a chance to have a successful season," ISU head coach Greg McDermott said. "Our intensity and communication on defense was where I liked to see them. A lot of their (ULM) shots were rushed, our closeouts were good and we did not give them second opportunities."

The first half was a game of runs. ISU started with a 7-0 lead, holding ULM scoreless for the first 5:35 until Tony Hooper made back-to-back to treys to cut it to 7-6. Then Jessan Gray came off the bench to score five-straight points, fueling ISU on a 7-0 run to forge ahead 16-8 with 11:00 minutes remaining in the opening stanza. However, the Warhawks rattled off the next nine points to move ahead 17-16. The Cyclones promptly answered with an 11-0 run to go into the locker room with a 27-17 advantage.

The Cyclones were strong on the defensive end, holding ULM to 24.0 percent field goal shooting and 17 points in the first half. It marked the first time since Dec. 31, 2002 that ISU held an opponent to 17 points or less in a half (Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 15 points).

Iowa State continued to dominate defensively in the second half, scoring the first nine points to open up a 36-17 lead. ISU held ULM scoreless from the field for over 11 minutes at one time, going on a 20-0 run during the span. Iowa State held a 64-36 lead when it emptied its bench.

Mike Taylor led the Cyclones in scoring for the second consecutive game with 15 points. True freshman Wesley Johnson was outstanding in his second game at ISU, posting a double-double with 11 points and 12 boards.

ISU plays Eastern Illinois at 2:30 p.m. Sunday in the final game of the American Family Insurance BTI Cyclone Challenge.

Notes:

Ross Marsden attempted his first 3-pointer of his career, and made it in the first half.

Iowa State held ULM to 17 first-half points, holding an opponent to 17 points or less in a half for the first time since Arkansas-Pine Bluff scored 15 points in the first half against ISU on Dec. 31, 2002.

Wesley Johnson has controlled the opening tip in all four games (including exhibitions) this season.

Wesley Johnson posted 12 boards in the win...he is the first Cyclone freshman to grab 10 or more rebounds in a game since Rahshon Clark recorded 10 at Kansas on Feb. 19, 2005.

Johnson recorded a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds...he is the first Cyclone freshman to record a double-double since Curtis Stinson had 20 points and 11 rebounds against Marquette (March 25, 2004).

It marked the first time ISU held an opponent to under 28 percent shooting from the field since Arkansas-Pine Bluff shot 24.2 percent vs. ISU on Dec. 4, 2001.

Iowa State out rebounded ULM, 45-25.

Iowa State made its first 14 free throws until Corey McIntosh missed.

ULM’s 40 points is the lowest by a Cyclone opponent since Northern Colorado scored 39 vs. ISU on Nov. 26, 2004.