Baylor vs Iowa State final score: DeAndre Kane, Cyclones make statement in 87-72 win

Did you hear that, America? That was the sound of DeAndre Kane and the Iowa State Cyclones putting everyone on notice after a second-half beatdown of the Baylor Bears at Hilton Coliseum on Tuesday night.

Jan 7, 2014; Ames, IA, USA; Iowa State Cyclones forward

DeAndre Kane

(50) celebrates during the first half against the Baylor Bears at James H. Hilton Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports

The Cyclones (14-0, 2-0) went on a 45-30 run after the game was tied at 42 in the second half with 18:06 to go. It was all Kane, Melvin Ejim, and a barrage of 3-point shots that sealed the deal for ISU to extend their best start to a season.

Kane finished with 30 points, shooting 11-of-18 overall from the field (at one point, it was 10-of-12), nine assists, eight rebounds, and five steals. His only blemish was causing six of the team’s 10 total turnovers, but it didn’t matter thanks to the bevy of mistakes Baylor made throughout the night.

What did in the Bears (12-2, 0-1) were 19 total turnovers, lack of offense from Cory Jefferson (finished with seven points and 10 rebounds), and the team getting absolutely steamrolled in transition by Iowa State.

Baylor was able to stay in it with 3-point shots early, making 11-of-25 from the perimeter, but the Cyclones negated that making 10-of-25 themselves. Multiple ISU players, especially Kane and Ejim, had wide open lay-ups or easy access to tip-ins inside the paint, along with easy fast break opportunities.

Jan 7, 2014; Ames, IA, USA; Baylor Bears forward

Cory Jefferson

(34) is called for an offensive foul against forward

Melvin Ejim

(3) during the first half against the Iowa State Cyclones at James H. Hilton Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports

Ejim finished with 18 points while Dustin Hogue aided Kane on the boards with a team-high 10 rebounds. Despite Baylor’s advantage in offensive rebounds (+8 margin), they couldn’t do much with it.

Iowa State finished with an incredible 54.8 percent shooting from the floor. Kane will get the spotlight for this tremendous game, as he should, but it wasn’t just him. How much these players share the ball will be the key in winning ball games, and the Cyclones had 23 assists on 34 field goals made.

This was a statement game for Iowa State. With Oklahoma State’s key players facing issues and Kansas’ slow start to the season, perhaps the Cyclones should be the current favorite to win the Big 12. They not only look like the best team in the conference, but one of the best in the nation.

• Iowa State’s Monte Morris and Naz Long hit five 3-point shots, combining for 19 points and eight assists off the bench.
• Georges Niang was in foul trouble early, affecting his production during the game. He was still able to get nine points and five assists in limited action for the Cyclones.
• Isaiah Austin finally stepped up offensively for Baylor, efficiently shooting 5-of-8 from the field and finished with 10 points and 12 rebounds. However, he led the team with five turnovers.
• Rico Gathers was also unable to perform on offense for the Bears, finishing with three points and four fouls.
• Brady Heslip had a Dusty Hannahs-like game off the bench, hitting 4-of-6 from 3-point range for Baylor.