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IOWA STATE CYCLONES
Cyclones pull upset of Wildcats in OT
PRESS y in
ASSOCIATED PRESS
By Nate Sandell
Iowa State Daily - Sunday, March 7
But in a game that nearly joined the collection, the Cyclones prevailed in a stunning 85-82 overtime upset of No. 5 Kansas State on Saturday.
Iowa State had led by as much as 11 points in the first half, but Kansas State stormed back in the second half to force overtime. Thanks in part to a shooting percentage of 50 percent and several clutch free throws, the Cyclones were able to hold off the hometown Wildcats for Iowa State's second Big 12 road win since 2007.
The 2009-10 Iowa State basketball season has been characterized by a string of close losses.
"We were relentless," said forward Craig Brackins after the game. "We were relentless. We didn't stop. We didn't let things get to us."
The victory was one of the biggest wins in coach Greg McDermott's four year tenure at Iowa State, and snapped a streak of 21 straight losses to Top 25-ranked teams.
iowa State forward Marquis Gilstrap, right, and Kansas State forward Dominique Sutton dive after the ball during the first half of Iowa State's upset of the Wildcats on Saturday. Gilstrap had 13 points and 13 rebounds.
"If we shot the ball like we did today all year we are talking about a much different team, because we finally made some shots today," McDermott said. "We beat a very talented and tough team and I am so proud of these guys."
The Cyclones were able to close out the game despite forward Craig Brackins fouling out with 2:25 left in the second half. Before being forced to watch from the sidelines, Brackins posted a team-leading 19 points and 12 rebounds.
"Every time he came down the court I told him," DG you have to take over. You have to be the leader of this team," Brackins said.
With Brackins out, Iowa State turned to guard Diante Garrett to provide on-court leadership.
Garrett responded by scoring five of his eight points in overtime, and fearlessly guided the Cyclone offense with eight assists.
Apart from Brackins, Iowa State had four other players score in double figures, including Scott Christopher with 18 points and Marquis Gilstrap with 13 points and 13 rebounds.
Saturday's season-finale win put Iowa State at 15-16 on the year and 4-12 in the Big 12, matching the team's regular season record from last season.
NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS
Huskers still have postseason opportunity
By Mike Schaefer Daily Nebraskan — Thursday, March 4
There's a light at the end of the tunnel for the Cornhuskers. It's not much, but if one squints really hard, a small ray of sun is visible.
The CBI is the upstart postseason tournament for teams not good enough to make the National Invitational Tournament, which is made up of teams not good enough to make the field of 65 in the NCAA tournament.
That light is the College Basketball Invitational.
Basically, it is an "everyone is a winner" trophy. Last year, at an underwhelming 13-17, Oregon State, who beat Nebraska 64-63, qualified. Do the Huskers have the luck of the Beavers?
Almost anyone who has followed this team would admit Nebraska isn't particularly deserving of postseason play.
A brief glance at the resume sums it up for anyone who has had the fortune of avoiding this team: 14-16 overall and an appalling 2-13 record in the Big 12 Conference.
It seems natural to assume no team should be rewarded for this kind of a season. It is probably more of a reward to fans if the season ended mercifully, but this Husker team is better than the record indicates.
Not substantially, but a team working this hard should have more wins to show for it.
The problem for the Huskers is finishing games. Several times this season Nebraska has led in the second half, only to watch the lead slip away when another five-minute scoring drought sets in. When the team does have a chance to win the game, the players look scared to step up and seize the opportunity.
Sadler needs it, too. He needs something to point at this season, which is shaping up to be one of the worst seasons of Husker basketball ever.
The coach knows all of this and it is why he still has his team practicing hard - 5 in the morning hard.
He won't let the Huskers go out quietly, even if it is in the CBI and no one is around to see it.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Nebraska's Jorge Brian Diaz gets the ball knocked away by Texas Tech's D'walyn Roberts during their game Saturday, Feb. 27, in Lincoln, Neb.The Huskers won 83-79 in double overtime.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THE WAVE MARCH 10.2010