No. 2 Iowa State grabs ugly 14-point win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff

AMES — Steve Prohm didn't think it would be perfect and it certainly wasn't.

Three days removed from No. 2 Iowa State's most emotionally draining and physical game of the season and down a starter, Prohm got the feeling his Cyclones might have to gut one out against an overmatched opponent.

'We've just kind of been through it and been through the wringer a little bit,' Prohm said. 'I didn't think it would be 78-64 to be honest, but it was. There are a lot of factors into it.'

Iowa State survived Arkansas-Pine Bluff 78-64 and played only six in the rotation until the final minute while senior Naz Mitrou-Long sat out to rest his hips. Five Cyclones were in double figures with Jameel McKay pouring in 18 points and eight rebounds while Matt Thomas, who started for Mitrou-Long, had 17 points and five 3-pointers.

Beating a 2-8 team that doesn't have a home game until Jan. 16 by a modest margin was noteworthy for the Cyclones (9-0), but not necessarily a cause for concern.

'We just didn't come out with any type of effort,' Thomas said. 'Obviously we had a big win on Thursday night, but that's no excuse. We paid no attention to detail and we were getting back cut the entire game.'

Iowa State allowed the Golden Lions to shoot 45.9 percent from the field and 48 percent in the second half.

Monte Morris had 12 points and 11 assists while Georges Niang and Hallice Cooke each chipped in 11 points. Thirteen turnovers, nine coming in the first half, took the Cyclones out of any offensive rhythm and allowed Arkansas-Pine Bluff to hang within 15 points for most of the way.

The Golden Lions also threw different zone defenses into the mix, which allowed Iowa State to get open looks — 49 percent from the field and 50 percent from 3 — but also caused cross-court passes that were picked off.

'The biggest thing is we just turned it over nine or 10 times in the first half,' Prohm said. 'So instead of having 51 points, we had 39 and that's the biggest thing. So now you start questioning or evaluating or over evaluating what you're doing.'

'We lacked energy for whatever reason, but a win is a win,' McKay said. 'You can't really get mad at a win. Like I told the team, we're just going to take this win and forget about it.'

Prohm anticipates Mitrou-Long's absence to be a one-time occurrence, but didn't rule out the chance he could miss more time during conference play. The senior guard is battling hip pains that required surgery in the offseason and will be evaluated on a week-to-week basis by the training staff.

Iowa State has an off-day Monday and a light day Tuesday so Mitrou-Long said his week-long plan is to work on rehab ahead of Saturday's game against Northern Iowa in Des Moines.

'I don't think there is a setback or anything like that,' Mitrou-Long said before Sunday's game. 'Is there a little bit of pain here and there? Yeah, but it was expected. I know the surgery went well and that's basically what I'm up with.'

Playing Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Sunday dictated Iowa State's ability to rest Mitrou-Long for a game, but Prohm said assessing his progress will be evaluated heavier as Big 12 play and postseason games near.

'We'll just continue getting Naz healthy and he'll just fight through some pain,' Prohm said. 'But he's a warrior and he's one of our leaders.'

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