MANHATTAN, Kan. – No. 10 Iowa State got 24 points from Curtis Jones and never trailed on its way to a 73-57 win against Kansas State Saturday afternoon at Bramlage Coliseum.
The Cyclones improved to 23-8 overall and finished 13-7 in Big 12 play as it heads to the postseason. It marks the second-straight season under head coach T.J. Otzelberger that ISU won 13 games in conference play. K-State ends the regular season 15-16 overall and 9-11 in Big 12 action.
Iowa State was 18-for-22 from the free-throw line and shot 47 percent from the field.
Iowa State came out and enforced the inside early, jumping out to an 8-2 lead at the first media timeout behind all eight points coming in the paint.
The Cyclones held the Wildcats scoreless for nearly five minutes and led 13-6 with 11:06 remaining. A 7-0 run extended the lead to 11 points (17-6).
Jones scored 10 first-half points as the Cyclones led 34-26 at the break. The Cyclones forced seven first-half turnovers and converted them into a 14-0 edge on points off turnovers in the opening stanza.
Iowa State pushed its lead to as many as 17 points in the second half, using a 9-0 run just over five minutes into the half to gain full control of the momentum.
ISU never looked back as it improved to 6-5 in road games this season.
Jones finished with 24 points, making three 3-pointers and finishing 11-for-12 at the line. It was his first 20-point game since scoring 22 points against Cincinnati on Feb. 15.
