Iowa State Too Much For Colorado, 68-62 in the Opening Game of the College Basketball Season

WRITTEN BY NICK GOEMAN OF ESPN 99.1

The Sanford Pentagon for the third time in three years hosted big time division one basketball as this year’s matchup featured the Iowa State Cyclones and the Colorado Buffaloes.

The Cyclones had three players rank in the preseason top 100 put out by ESPN including senior forward Georges Niang ranked no. 15, junior guard Monte Morris at no. 25 and senior forward Jameel McKay made the top 100 at no. 60.

Iowa State opened this year ranked #7 in the country behind new head coach Steve Prohm. Prohm was certainly impressed with the venue for his first game as well, “Obviously our fans travel really well, it’s a great environment and it’s really a home game for us,” Prohm added, “They did it right with all the door coverings and signs.”

Prohm replaced Cyclones legend Fred Hoiberg earlier this summer after Hoiberg took the head-coaching job for the Chicago Bulls.

Prior to Iowa State, Prohm was the head coach at Murray State where he led the Racers to 104 wins and 29 losses.

Coach Prohm couldn't of been happier with the outcome of his first game as ISU. “It’s super, my moms coming to town tomorrow and I want her to be in a good mood,” Prohm said. “She hasn’t been to Aimes yet, so that’s the best part.

The two teams faced off at four o’clock on Friday in front of a sold out crowd of 3,200 people and allthough this was a technically a road game for both teams, Iowa State colors filled most the 3,200 seats.

Both teams came out of the gates sloppy, only 14 points total were scored eight minutes into the ball game. There were also seven turnovers between the two teams at that point as well.

With 2:11 left in the first half, Morris drove the lane and floated a pass to McKay for an alley-oop dunk that electrified the Cyclone driven crowd at the Pentagon.

Morris would then cause the crowd to uproar again after a 17-foot stepback jumper over Colorado’s Dominique Collier and then a steal right before half to finish with 10 points, 2 assist and 2 steals.

Iowa State went into halftime with the momentum in their favor and a 30-25 lead over Colorado.

The Buffaloes struggled shooting to start the second half with only four points after the first five minutes of play. That changed after a pair of three pointers by George King and one by Collier to give Colorado a 9-point run.

Colorado would bring the game to within three points with ten minutes left in the game but Iowa State would answer back with a five point run of their own.

With 1:12 left in regulation, Niang drove the lane and floated a pass to McKay for another alley-oop dunk to push the Cyclone lead to seven.

Collier would then nail a three at the top of the arc to narrow the gap to six with 30 seconds left.

After an intentional foul and two made free throws from Abdel Nader, the Cyclones closed out the Buffaloes 68-62 to open up the College Basketball season.

“The guys expect to win and expect to win big games,” Prohm said. “I’m just trying to follow their lead right now to be honest, not mess them up and follow their lead.”

Niang led the Cyclones with 17 points and Nader would pitch in with 14 points, 6 rebounds, 2 blocks and 2 steals.

George ended the game with 14 points, while Collier and Scott added 13 and 11 points for the Buffaloes.

WRITTEN BY NICK GOEMAN OF ESPN 99.1