Top 15 ISU men’s basketball moments: Redemption in West Virginia rematch
By Brian Spaen
Iowa State suffered one of the worst losses of the season in West Virginia, getting blown out 102-77 and being flat-out noncompetitive. It was an entirely different story in the rematch at Hilton Coliseum.
Feb 26, 2014; Ames, IA, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Monte Morris (11) scores a layup against the West Virginia Mountaineers in the first half at James H. Hilton Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports
It didn’t matter than DeAndre Kane transferred from Marshall and played the Mountaineers multiple times in his college basketball career. In fact, he arguably had the worst night of any Cyclone, going just 6-of-15 from the field, missing all three 3-point attempts, and committing five turnovers to just two assists.
Melvin Ejim (1-of-9) and Monte Morris (3-of-12) had worse nights as starters from the field. Both Shannon-Dorsey Walker and Naz Long didn’t make a shot from the bench.
In total, Iowa State went 4-of-23 from 3-point range, had more turnovers (14) than assists (13), and faced a 19-point deficit at halftime.
Redemption was the theme in Ames 16 days later as fortunes were completely reversed. Morris still struggled from the field but took less attempts, instead being a distributor and dishing out 12 assists while not committing a turnover.
Kane had a more balanced game, going 8-of-15 from the field and finished with a double-double, 17 points and 11 rebounds. After a dismal night shooting the ball in Morgantown, the Cyclones responded with shooting 50.8 percent from the field, also making 9-of-20 from 3-point range.
Iowa State bounced back in the assist-turnover ratio with 22 assists and 10 turnovers. They also destroyed West Virginia in the paint, 46-24.
It was one of the greatest turnovers in the evenly-scheduled Big 12. The Cyclones wouldn’t respond well with back-to-back losses against Kansas State and Baylor on the road, but they proved that if you’re name wasn’t Kansas, you weren’t going to win at Hilton Coliseum last year.
Iowa State men’s basketball top 15 moments of 2013-14
15. DeAndre Kane’s perimeter shooting en route to Diamond Head Classic title
14. Monte Morris emerges, nearly hits double-double against Auburn
13. Cyclones hold on to win after blowing 18-point lead vs. Texas Tech
12. Redemption at Hilton Coliseum after getting blown out at West Virginia
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