No. 13 Iowa State Holds Off TCU, 92-83
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AMES, Iowa (AP) — Georges Niang scored 27 points, Abdel Nader had 24 and 13th-ranked Iowa State held off TCU 92-83 on Saturday night to move within a victory of its fifth straight 20-win season.
Deonte Burton set season highs with 23 points and 14 rebounds for the Cyclones (19-8, 8-6 Big 12), who never trailed despite playing without center Jameel McKay.
Iowa State went on a 15-6 run to open the second half and weathered a few Horned Frogs runs for its 12th home win this season.
McKay, averaging 11.7 points and 8.7 rebounds per game, didn't play because of what the Cyclones said was a coach's decision.
Freshman forward JD Miller had 19 points and 11 rebounds for TCU (11-16, 2-12), which remained winless in Big 12 road games. Malique Trent scored 17.
Iowa State's most recent loss — a 100-91 overtime defeat at No. 25 Baylor on Tuesday that would have been a win had Monte Morris' late 3 been shot a half-second earlier — was its third OT loss on the road this season. Those defeats will likely be the ones that cost the Cyclones even a share of the Big 12 title.
Iowa State let TCU hang around before securing a victory that kept it within a game of second place.
The Cyclones jumped ahead 22-10 and appeared ready to cruise to a blowout win. But TCU rallied with the 6-foot-9 McKay on the bench, as Trent stretched the Cyclones' defense with four early 3s to pull the Horned Frogs even at 24.
Iowa State rallied late in the first half, with Nader hitting a 3-pointer for a 44-36 halftime lead.
Two 3s by Matt Thomas early in the second half put the Cyclones ahead 59-42. They let TCU get as close as 67-60 before Burton's jumper made it 86-73 with 2:36 left.
Still, Iowa State was outrebounded 43-31 against a Horned Frogs team ranked last in the Big 12 in rebounding margin.
TIP-INS
TCU: Trent elbowed Niang in the face late in the first half but helped him off the floor and apologized before Niang shot the ensuing free throws. ... The Horned Frogs have dropped their last eight against Iowa State.
Iowa State: The Cyclones honored Nader and Morris before the game for passing 1,000 career points. ... Niang and TCU's Brandon Parrish exchanged words after Parrish fouled Niang midway through the second half.
UP NEXT
TCU plays at Texas Tech on Wednesday.
Iowa State plays at No. 10 West Virginia on Monday.
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