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PROVO — The Cougars’ five-point halftime lead evaporated in a physical second half that featured three Cyclones players disqualified. Still, Iowa State emerged victorious Wednesday night at the Marriott Center, 90-88.
“I think that the resistance that Iowa State gave us was pretty strong,” BYU head coach Dave Rose said. “They were really tough around the rim, really tough offensively and defensively. We gave up a couple of offensive rebounds late for scores that kind of broke our spirits a little bit.”
Standout freshman forward Eric Mika had 17 points and nine rebounds for the Cougars before leaving the contest with 3:29 remaining after he suffered an eye gouge from Cyclones guard DeAndre Kane, who was whistled for a flagrant personal foul 2 on the play, resulting in his ejection.
Iowa State took advantage of Mika’s absence and out-rebounded BYU 27-17 in the second half.
“We rebounded the ball really well for about 30 minutes,” Rose said. “The tide changed a little bit and they got a couple really timely offensive rebounds. Those are things that we’ll look at and try and improve.”
I think that the resistance that Iowa State gave us was pretty strong. They were really tough around the rim, really tough offensively and defensively. We gave up a couple of offensive rebounds late for scores that kind of broke our spirits a little bit.
–Dave Rose
Playing in his first game back from an abdominal strain that occurred in a win at Stanford, junior Tyler Haws drilled both free throws in Mika’s place and earned and converted another pair on the Cougars’ subsequent possession to get back within one.
Cyclones forward Georges Niang scored the next six points to give Iowa State an 88-83 edge with 1:23 left in regulation.
“It just seemed like they were a little bit better in their execution late in the game,” Rose said. “We had a tough time with their post-guy late and probably should have made some better adjustments on that.”
Two jumpers, one by freshman Frank Bartley IV and the other from Haws, allowed BYU to narrow the gap to just two points.
Sophomore Kyle Collinsworth then skied to deflect a pass that junior Anson Winder gathered before he was fouled. Winder made one of two at the line, but it would be the last point scored for the Cougars.
“I think that we had quite a few chances there at the end to make a few plays and win the game,” Rose said.
Down by two, Haws made his way to the top of the key, but his field goal attempt was rejected as three Cyclones swarmed BYU’s leading scorer. Kyle Collinsworth had one last shot at the buzzer to send the game to overtime, but his effort sailed long.
Twenty-two fouls were called in the second half, compared to 13 in the first. The Cougars again struggled at the charity stripe, making just 12-of-20 (60 percent) of their attempts.
Is BYU basketball set for historic run?
From 1981 to 1999, the BYU basketball program made only two appearances in the Sweet 16. Drawing from a recruiting base that has several nationally ranked players, the Cougars can make an historic run in the NCAA Tournament.Haws paced the BYU attack with 20 points and junior point guard Matt Carlino had one of his best all-around games of the early season, finishing with 19 points, seven assists, four rebounds, four steals and zero turnovers.
“We had our chances down the stretch, we just didn’t make the plays that we needed to,” Haws said. “You got to give Iowa State a lot of credit. They’re tough guys, long, athletic and they had a great second half.”
Iowa State was led by guard Melvin Ejim in his second game back. The senior scored 21 points in 28 minutes, fouling out just after Mika’s injury.
Ejim made sure to let the Marriot Center spectators know how he felt about their heckling with an obscene gesture as he made his way to the bench. He later apologized on Twitter.
Rose said that Mika will get a scan on his eye to determine the seriousness of the injury.
Junior Nate Austin grabbed 13 rebounds and Collinsworth finished with 11 points, nine rebounds and four assists.
The Cougars play Texas next on Nov. 25 in Kansas City, Mo., in the continuation of the College Basketball Experience Hall of Fame Classic. Kyle Spencer is a writer and content manager for ksl.com. He is studying journalism at Utah Valley University and is the sports editor of the UVU Review. Follow him on twitter @kyledspencer.
