Jackrabbits stun the Cyclones

Tuesday, December 23

Ames, Iowa

7 p.m.

South Dakota State University

Iowa State

Jacks open with a win at Eastern Illinois

12/23/2008 1:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball

By: SDSU Sports Info

AMES, Iowa ?? South Dakota State went into Tuesday's game at Iowa State riding a 17-game road losing streak an fresh off a 72-55 drubbing at Northern Iowa on Sunday, but the Jackrabbits left Hilton Coliseum in Ames with a one-game road winning streak and their first-ever win over a BCS conference school after beating the Cyclones 65-58 in front of 11,594 fans.

Clint Sargent led the Jacks, who improve to 6-8 heading into the holiday break, with 18 points and tied a career-high with a game-high ten rebounds to complete the double-double. Sargent also added four assists. Anthony Cordova tied a career-high with 17 points, 15 of which came in the second half, and added eight rebounds.

NBA prospect Craig Brackins led the Cyclones, who fall to 7-4 in the loss, with 18 points, Lucca Staiger added 12 points.

Kai Williams pitched in with 12 points and added ten rebounds for his third double-double of the season, but first since the two games in Cancun.

Iowa State scored first on an old fashioned three-point play, but Kai Williams answered with a three-pointer on the Jackrabits first trip down the floor, Clint Sargent added a three on the second trip down the floor and the Jacks led 6-3 early and started a back-and-forth game that saw seven ties and nine lead changes.

After exchanging the lead three times midway through the first half, a Mark Engen basket capped a 6-1 run that gave the Jacks a five-point lead at 19-14 with 6:57 to play in the half.

ISU came back with a 5-0 run, but a Michael Palarca three-pointer with 5:29 on the clock put the Jacks back on top at 22-19.

A Garrett Callahan three right before the first half buzzer cut the lead to two at 32-30 at the break.

The Jacks shot 44 percent from the floor in the first half on 12-of-27 shooting, but they did go 5-for-10 from three-point range. Iowa State shot an even 50 percent in the first half on 12-of-24 shooting, but made just three of its ten three-point attempts.

Despite a significant size differential not in the Jackrabbits favor, SDSU went into the lockerroom with a 15-12 rebounding advantage, including a 3-0 margin on the offensive glass. Both teams finished the game with eight offensive rebounds, but SDSU won the overall rebounding battle 36-35.

The teams played close to start the second half, until a 7-0 Jackrabbit run put SDSU on top 53-44 with 7:42 left to play in the game, and although Iowa State would get as close at two-points at 60-58 with 35 seconds left, a late Williams dunk and a pair of Williams free throws sealed the win.

Overall, the Jacks struggled from the line, going just 13-of-24 on the night (54.2 percent), but the Cyclones did not fair much better, shooting 57 percent in a 12-for-21 effort.

Iowa State held the Jacks to 41 percent shooting in the second half on 11-of-27 shooting, which includes a 1-of-7 effort from beyond the arc in the second half.

The Jacks committed 13 turnovers on the night, but forced 16 Cyclone turnovers, three of them forced by Griffan Callahan, who finished with three steals in just his second game in a Jackrabbit uniform.

The Jackrabbits now get a break before they return to action, and to Summit League play, on Dec. 31, when they travel to Oakland (Mich.) to take on the Golden Grizzlies.

Tipoff from the O'Rena is scheduled for 4 p.m. ET, 3 p.m. CT.