FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Iowa State has already experienced quite a bit of March madness, and the Cyclones haven’t even started the postseason yet.
Georges Niang and Monte Morris each had 19 points and No. 17 Iowa State ended the regular season with another comeback win, beating TCU 89-76 on Saturday night to clinch the No. 2 seed in the Big 12 tournament.
“We just played how we’re capable of playing now in two second halves in a row,” Cyclones coach Fred Hoiberg said. “It can’t stay like that. You’ve got to come out and get off to a great start and continue to play that way for 40 minutes. If we do that, we’re going to be a pretty good team the rest of the way.”
The 10-point deficit the Cyclones (22-8, 12-6 Big 12) had before halftime was only half of what they faced when they had a record-setting comeback their previous game.
Led by Niang’s 17 points, Iowa State had four players score in double figures just in the second half in a 63-point outburst against TCU (17-14, 4-14). A 16-5 run in first 4½ minutes after halftime put the Cyclones ahead to stay.
Morris had 12 points in the second half, while Bryce Dejean-Jones had 11 of his 15 after the break. Jameel McKay finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Iowa State was coming off a 77-70 win Monday night over Oklahoma, when it rallied from 21 points. That was the largest comeback in school history.
Kenrich Williams had 17 points and Kyan Anderson, a Fort Worth native and one of three Horned Frogs seniors in their last home game, scored 16. TCU had won its previous three home games.
“It wasn’t supposed to end that way for Trey Zeigler, Amric Fields and Kyan Anderson, seniors that have given everything to this basketball program,” third-year coach Trent Johnson said.
Niang had an assist on Naz Long’s 3-pointer from the right wing with 16:54 left that made it 40-37 and gave Iowa State the lead for good.
Trey Zeigler had 14 points and Brandon Parrish 11 for TCU. Karviar Shepherd had 10 rebounds.