Cyclones Surge Previous Northwestern in Second Exhibition

AMES, Iowa – No. 16 Iowa State used a robust second half to surge previous Northwestern Sunday afternoon at Hilton Coliseum, successful its second exhibition over the Wildcats by a rating of 80-72.

After trailing by three on the break, ISU outscored the Wildcats by 11 within the second half behind sturdy performances from Nate Heise and Joshua Jefferson. The Cyclones shot 50 % from the sphere and behind the arc within the second stanza as they ended up pulling away from a Northwestern group in its first motion of the exhibition season.

Jefferson performed a game-high 34 minutes and completed with 17 factors and 7 boards, capturing 55 % from the ground. Nate Heise had a Cyclone excessive 19 factors, because the senior linked on a game-high 5 triples. Utah Valley switch Dominick Nelson had 17 factors and a game-high 4 steals. Killyan Toure was the fourth and last Cyclone to complete in double figures as he ended with 11 factors to go together with three steals, six boards and 5 assists.

Nick Martinelli, the 2024-25 Big 10 scoring chief, had a game-high 20 factors. Joining Martinelli in double figures for the Wildcats have been Tre Singleton (14), Arrinten Page (10) and Max Green (10). Singleton led the squad in rebounds with 5, whereas Jordan Clayton had a team-best 4 assists.

The Cyclones shot 50 % from the sphere on the day and 41 % (9-22) from past the arc, besting Northwestern in every class. ISU additionally improved its free throw capturing from the primary exhibition, cashing 81 % of its freebies. Iowa State completed with extra bench factors (24), second likelihood factors (11) and factors within the paint (34) than the Wildcats.

How it Happened

Northwestern jumped out to a fast 12-6 lead by the 15:37 mark, however that might be its largest benefit of the afternoon. ISU answered NU’s run with one in every of their very own, rattling off six straight to tie issues up at 12.

The Cyclones took their first lead on a Killyan Toure free throw on the 11:57 mark. An alley oop from Toure to Nelson then jump-started an ISU run because the Cyclones have been in a position to push their result in eight, resulting in a Wildcat timeout with 10:29 on the clock.

The Wildcats got here out of the timeout refocused and would ultimately tie issues again up at 26-all with slightly below seven minutes remaining. NU outscored the Cyclones 14-11 down the stretch and took a three-point cushion into the locker room.

Northwestern opened the second half by extending its lead once more to 6, tying its largest lead of the afternoon.

Iowa State buckled down on protection from there and rallied to take a 52-48 lead forcing a Wildcat timeout with 12:21 left within the sport.

ISU would not give up its lead for the rest of the competition, at one level extending its result in as giant as 11 factors because it went on to win its second and last exhibition of the yr, 80-72.

Key Performer

Nate Heise decided the Cyclones weren’t going to lose, as he scored 13 of his 19 factors within the second half and made a sport greatest 5 3-pointers. He completed capturing 7-10 from the ground and 5-7 from deep with a rebound and a pair of assists.

Up Next

The subsequent time the Cyclones take the ground, it will be the true deal. ISU will welcome FDU to Hilton Coliseum on Monday, Nov. 3, for the 2025-26 opener. Iowa State will face the Knights at 7 pm and the sport will likely be streamed dwell on ESPN+.