March 29, 2024

Burton’s bank helps Cyclones upend ninth-ranked Baylor

AMES (AP) — Iowa State star Deonte Burton often takes shots that his coaches wish he wouldn’t.

With a potential win over a top 10 opponent slipping away, Burton banked in the biggest basket of his career.

Burton scored 22 points, including a crucial 3-pointer off the glass with just more than a minute left, and Iowa State beat No. 9 Baylor 72-69 on Saturday for its fifth straight win.

Monte Morris had 17 points with seven assists for the Cyclones (19-9, 11-5 Big 12), who have their longest winning streak in league play since a seven-game stretch in 2005.

It was a back-and-forth matchup for more than 30 minutes, with nine lead changes and 13 ties. But consecutive treys from Donovan Jackson and Morris gave Iowa State a 56-51 lead with 6:50 left.

Johnathan Motley made it 62-61 on a dunk with 1:48 to go.

But with the shot clock about to expire, Burton knocked down that triple from the top of the key to help end Baylor’s five-game winning streak against Iowa State.

Baylor, which followed with a turnover forced by Iowa State pressure, eventually pulled within three with 4.3 seconds left before King McLure’s contested 3-pointer at the buzzer failed to find the rim.

Motley had 27 points and 11 rebounds for Baylor (23-6, 10-6), which dominated the Cyclones in second-chance points 26-2 and on the boards 37-17. But Iowa State shot 58 percent from the field, was 8-of-15 on 3-pointers and 12-of-15 from the line.

Big Picture

Baylor: The Bears missed a big chance to bolster their NCAA Tournament resume with a win in Ames. But a home win over West Virginia on Monday night would help Baylor redeem itself.

Iowa State: The Cyclones are getting hot at the right time. Given that Iowa State also is a guard-oriented team, it’s also fair to think that the Cyclones might be able to do some damage in March. The win put Iowa State into a tie for second with the Mountaineers in the Big 12.