Donovan Jackson, Solomon Young play crucial roles in Iowa State's win at Kansas

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Donovan Jackson knew it was coming.

As Iowa State led No. 2 Kansas by one inside the final minute, Jackson turned to his bench as he walked out on the court. Something big was going to happen.

'I was like, 'Watch this, watch this,'' Jackson said. 'Then it came to me.'

Senior point guard Monte Morris had the ball at the top of the key as the clock ticked down. He drove to the hoop, curled his body around a defender and tossed it out to the right corner for a wide-open Jackson.

Splash.

'I knew I couldn't finish at the rim so I had to pass the ball to my roommate and he stepped up,' Morris said following Iowa State's 92-89 overtime win. 'He told me to find him late in the game and it's just trust that I have with every one of my guys to step up and make big shots.'

That drive and kick play is one the Cyclones (14-8, 6-4) work on in practice, and have seen the highs and lows of its success during games. Jackson's trey put Iowa State up four with less than 30 seconds to go and put the pressure on the Jayhawks (20-3, 8-2) to answer.

Iowa State's first win in Allen Fieldhouse was highlighted by 20-plus point performances from seniors Morris, Deonte Burton and Naz Mitrou-Long, but Jackson's 10 points, two 3s and crunch-time minutes helped put it on ice. He played 24 minutes and was 3-for-4 shooting.

'We're a family, man, so this means a lot to us,' Jackson said. 'I'm just really happy and excited that the seniors got the opportunity to win here. I don't think Georges Niang got to win here, but we said in the locker room that this one was for him.'

That's love Brodie way to get it done man I feel the love for real I'm so happy for you guys February 4, 2017

That's love Brodie way to get it done man I feel the love for real I'm so happy for you guys https://t.co/7Gtx4XXkwh

— Georges Niang (@GeorgesNiang20)

Freshman forward Solomon Young played 32 minutes and grabbed six rebounds in Iowa State's thin front court — Darrell Bowie served a one-game suspension while Merrill Holden was limited with four fouls.

In the last eight games combined, Young had only played 32 minutes including the loss at Vanderbilt where he didn't see the court.

'I wasn't sure how it was going to go,' Young said. 'It really depends on what the other guys in front of me are doing. I had to stay ready.'

Iowa State was at a 19-3 rebound disadvantage after the first half, and shrank that margin to 26-22 in the second half and overtime. Young's six rebounds were only behind Burton, who grabbed eight boards while scoring a team-high 29 points.

'He just physically competed, guarded ball screens and obviously now he's a guy that he should be fully cemented into the rotation now,' Prohm said of Young. 'He was terrific today and just competed, man. I think that was the opportunity he has waited for.'

Young played 23 minutes in the second half and overtime, including the entire extra period and helped hold KU center Landen Lucas, who grabbed a game-high 18 rebounds, to six points.

'If you asked him (if he thought he'd play 32 minutes), no chance,' Morris said of Young. 'But he stepped up. Everybody stepped up. With 'Solo' today, 32 minutes as a freshman, never seen nothing like this, it's amazing. I'm happy for him.'

l Comments: montzdylan@gmail.com