AUBURN, Ala. – No. 16 Auburn (17-2, 4-2 SEC) defeated Iowa State (9-10, 2-4 Big 12), 80-76 Saturday afternoon at Auburn Arena. The game was a part of the Big 12/SEC Challenge.
Three-point shooting allowed the Tigers to lead by as many as 18 points early in the second half, drilling 10 shots from downtown in the first 30 minutes of the contest.
Rasir Bolton, who led the Cyclones with 23 points, ignited a rally to get the Cyclones back into the game. His 15 second-half points helped ISU close the gap to four points (78-74) with under :30 seconds left. ISU had an opportunity to cut the lead to a point moments later, but a Terrence Lewis 3-pointer was off the mark.
In the end, the Cyclones couldnt recover from a 36.2 percent clip from the field. Iowa State did receive a boost from the bench from Solomon Young and Lewis, who combined for 22 of ISUs 29 bench points.
Lewis had 12 points and Young posted 10 points. Young grabbed a team-high nine boards, including four on the offensive glass.
Isaac Okoro led the Tigers with 19 points.
How It Happened
Auburn led 42-31 at the break, and its nine 3-pointers in the opening stanza played a huge role. Six different Auburn players drilled treys in the first half, led by a trio from Anfernee McLemore.
Prentiss Nixon had eight first-half points, including five points in the final minute to briefly cut the Tiger lead to under double-digits (39-31).
The Tigers stretched their lead to 18 points (55-37) by outscoring the Cyclones, 13-6 to begin the second period.
A 13-2 Cyclone run cut the lead to 57-50 with 10:50 remaining. Bolton started the run with a trey and Young had five points in the flurry to help the Cyclones get back into the game.
With under four minutes left in the game, the Tigers held a comfortable 76-62 lead, but the Cyclones kept fighting by closing the gap to just five points (78-73) on a 9-0 run, as Bolton hit a trey with under a minute left.
The Cyclones had a chance to cut the lead to one point, but Lewis misfired on a 3-pointer from the corner.
Players of Note
Solomon Young displayed energy from off the bench for the second-straight game, scoring 10 points and grabbing nine boards. Young helped the Cyclones trim an 18-point second-half deficit with his scoring and work on the boards.
Rasir Bolton tallied 20 or more points for the second-straight game with 23 points. Bolton, who has six 20-point games on the season, was 9-of-10 at the free-throw line.
Team Notes
-ISU had recorded 10 or more steals five times this season (10 today).
-In its last four games, ISU has shot 80.8 percent from the free-throw line (59-73).
-ISU has made a three-pointer in 421 consecutive games, dating back to the 2007-08 season.
-Series record: Tied, 2-2.
-Big 12/SEC Challenge: Iowa State is 3-4 all-time (1-4 on the road).
-ISU is 1-8 when trailing at halftime.
-ISU is 2-6 when allowing 80 or more points.
Up Next
Iowa State plays host to top-ranked Baylor on Wednesday (Jan. 29). Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. CT
