LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Fred Hoiberg has walked into Allen Fieldhouse to face Kansas enough times as a player and coach to anticipate what would happen to Iowa State on Wednesday night.
First, the sixth-ranked Jayhawks would go on a run.
Then, it would be up to his team to respond.
Sure enough, Kansas raced out to a big early lead, only for the 16th-ranked Cyclones to storm back and tie the game. But Iowa State never could get over the hump, and the Jayhawks managed to close with a flourish for a 92-81 victory.
“They came out on fire,” Hoiberg said. “They do such a good job of jumping on you. But you can’t panic and we didn’t. I give our guys credit for climbing back into the game and cutting that thing to one late.”
Andrew Wiggins scored a career-high 29 points, including six straight late in the game, to help push the Jayhawks’ winning streak to seven straight games.
Perry Ellis added 20 points for Kansas (16-4, 7-0 Big 12), which has won five straight over the Cyclones. Joel Embiid added 14 points and 11 rebounds, while Naadir Tharpe had 12 points and 12 assists and Wayne Selden had 11 points and five assists.
Georges Niang led the Cyclones (15-4, 3-4) with 24 points. DeAndre Kane added 22 points and Melvin Ejim, battling foul trouble much of the game, finished with 18 points and eight rebounds.