Iowa State men’s basketball rolls another Top 25 team, wins NIT tournament

NEW YORK — Iowa State men’s basketball coach T.J. Otzelberger took over a team that went 2-22 in 2020-21.

His rebuild has focused on defense and rebounding.

And winning.

Gabe Kalscheur scored 30 points and led Iowa State to a 78-59 win over No. 9 Memphis in the championship game of the NIT Season Tip-Off late Friday night.

Kalscheur was named MVP of the tournament. Tristan Enaruna and Aljaz Kunc scored 11 points each for the Cyclones, who are 6-0 heading into Wednesday’s home game against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

Entering Friday night’s game, the Cyclones were limiting opponents to 39.3 percent shooting from the field, including 23.9 percent from 3-point range, and have averaged 2.6 more rebounds than their opponents. Iowa State outrebounded Memphis, 42-34, and limited the Tigers to 35.8 percent shooting.

Coach Penny Hardaway’s Tigers entered Friday’s game as 11 1/2-point favorites, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

But the Cyclones were not fazed by their more celebrated opponent.

Iowa State led by five points at halftime and increased its advantage to as much as 25 in the second half.

Much like they did in their 82-70 win over No. 25 Xavier on Wednesday, the Cyclones generated their offense in the paint. Iowa State outscored Memphis, 22-16, over the first 10 minutes of the second half, with 10 of the Cyclones’ points coming on layups and Izaiah Brockington’s two-handed alley-oop jam.