Iowa State comes back from 21-point deficit to defeat Oklahoma

Iowa State had the look of a team in need of a spark entering its Monday night home against Oklahoma. The Cyclones had lost their last two games and four of their last eight. Through one half of basketball, it looked like Iowa State’s recent struggles would continue.

That changed at about the 15-minute mark of the second half when Georges Niang hit a pair of free throws for Iowa State to cut the deficit to 18 points. It would be the start of a 22-0 run for the Cyclones over the course of six minutes that worked Hilton Coliseum into a frenzy and keyed a 77-70 victory over Oklahoma.

Iowa State went on its second run thanks to a free-flowing offense that was finding wide open shooting and pushing the pace in transition. Niang was everywhere for the Cyclones, finishing with 23 points, eight rebounds and four assists in the win on 8-of-14 shooting.

Point guard Monte Morris was excellent for the Cyclones as well, finishing with 19 points and five assists. On senior night, it was the Cyclones most important senior, Dustin Hogue, who hit the three-pointer that gave Iowa State its first lead of the second half.

Iowa State pulls into a tie for second place in the Big 12 with Oklahoma with the win. Kansas also ensured at least a share of the conference’s regular season title for the 11th straight year.