AMES – No. 5 Iowa State took down IU Indianapolis in dominant fashion 87-52 Monday night. The effort was fueled by a hot start, bench points and a few hefty scoring runs for the Cyclones.
Off the bench, guard Curtis Jones was a huge help in Iowa State’s second scoring run. The Cyclones rocketed out of the gate and used a 12-0 run that made it a 14-2 game four minutes in.
Then, Jones’ number was called. He caught fire immediately, going on a personal 11-0 run after nailing his first four shots, three from beyond the perimeter. Forward Joshua Jefferson added a basket that capped off a 13-0 run.
“That was crazy,” Jones said. “Nothing was really going through my head, I was just playing. If I got the look, I was going to take it.”
Those two runs were part of a 27-5 run that took part over the first eight minutes of the game.
Though he cooled off in the second half, Jones finished with a team-high 20 points, his second straight game with 20 or more. Jones shot 7-for-14 from the floor and 4-for-10 from 3-point range.
“I’m feeling good and confident,” Jones said. “That’s the biggest thing.”
Over the offseason, head coach T.J. Otzelberger emphasized attempting more shots and getting more aggressive. Jones is proving early in the season that he can be that lethal shooter for the Cyclones.
“Back-to-back 20-point games, he’s been electric for us,” Otzelberger said. “He’s a sixth starter as soon as he comes in. He puts fear in the defense.”
The other two in the backcourt, guards Tamin Lipsey and Keshon Gilbert, had strong days as well. Lipsey was second in scoring with 17 points on 5-of-9 shooting and was perfect from the charity stripe, going 6-for-6.
Gilbert led the way in assists for the Cyclones with eight and added 11 points.
As for Jefferson, he had his most efficient night as a Cyclone thus far. He was a perfect 7-for-7 from the field and recorded his first double-double at Iowa State with 16 points and 10 rebounds.
At St. Mary’s, Jefferson had four double-doubles last season, with the most recent against Gonzaga. It’s something Otzelberger saw and wants Jefferson to chase this season.
“[Jefferson’s] a terrific player,” Otzelberger said. “At the rim, in the paint, on the glass, things go well for him, and then his offense falls into place. We believe that he can be a double-double guy, and that should be what he strives for night in and night out.”
Like Jefferson, center Dishon Jackson reeled in 10 rebounds. That’s where he made his impact, as he scored six points on 2-for-4 shooting with two free throws.
Their dynamic has grown each week in the post and should continue to get stronger as the season continues.
“Any lineup that we play out there, we have the best opportunity to win and play hard,” Jefferson said. “We have a lot of versatility.”
Now, attention shifts to the Maui Invitational, but the focus for the Cyclones remains the same: one game at a time.
“I’m not one to get too far ahead,” Otzelberger said. “We’re not going to start worrying about who we play or practicing for anybody. It’s about us continuing to get better.”
