No. 19 Cyclones overcome slow start, rout Ark-Pine Bluff

Updated Dec. 1, 2021 10:18 p.m. ET
Associated Press

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Izaiah Brockington had 23 points and 10 rebounds for his third double-double of the season, and No. 19 Iowa State shook off a slow start and beat Arkansas-Pine Bluff 83-64 on Wednesday night.

The Cyclones (7-0), who entered the AP Top 25 this week for the first time since Feb. 2019, extended their best start since 2015-16.

Tre Jackson scored 12 points and George Conditt added 11 points and seven rebounds for Iowa State, which was playing the third of its four games against Southwestern Athletic Conference opponents.

Shawn Williams was 4 for 7 on 3-pointers and scored 21 points to lead Arkansas-Pine Bluff (1-8). Trey Sampson scored 16 points and Kylen Milton 13 for the Golden Lions.

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The game started off as a slog. The Cyclones, who came in having trailed for a total of 10 minutes in their first six games, missed 12 of their first 14 shots and trailed early.

The Cyclones took their first lead at the start of a 13-0 run, when Jackson made a steal at midcourt and passed to Brockington, who finished with a fast-break dunk. They outscored the Lions 33-13 the last 12 minutes of the half and led 38-22 at the break.

Williams hit a pair of deep 3s to help Arkansas-Pine Bluff get within 46-32, but Caleb Grill and Jackson hit back-to-back 3s and the Cyclones went on to lead by as many as 30 points.

Iowa State played Arkansas-Pine Bluff for a second straight year. The Cyclones beat the Lions 80-63 last season for one of their two wins.

BIG PICTURE

Arkansas-Pine Bluff: The Lions have played eight of their first nine on the road, not unusual for a SWAC team that relies on money games early in the season to fund its athletic program. Their eight losses are by an average of 22 points.

Iowa State: Coming off the high of back-to-back wins over Top 25 opponents Xavier and Memphis and their first ranking in three seasons, the Cyclones might have had an emotional hangover early. Once Brockington and Conditt got going, it was game over.

UP NEXT

Iowa State: Visits Creighton on Saturday. The Bluejays are led by former Iowa State coach Greg McDermott, who gave current ISU coach T.J. Otzelberger his first Power Five conference assistant's job.

Arkansas State: Visits defending national champion Baylor on Saturday. The Lions lost 99-42 to the Bears last year.

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More AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25

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