ISU looks to avenge 'embarrassing' loss to OU

A recent cold shooting spell failed to faze Iowa State guard Brynn Williamson.

“No,” the Cyclone freshman said. “They have to fall sometime.”

They did Wednesday.

Williamson's two 3-pointers early in the second half gave ISU the lead against Kansas and stoked a 19-2 run that led to a 66-47 win at Hilton Coliseum.

The Cyclones (15-9, 6-7) will need Williamson's hot hand again when athletic Oklahoma (17-8, 9-4) comes to Ames for Saturday's 7 p.m. Big 12 game.

The Sooners won the first meeting, 80-51, at Norman and one word universally summed up that ISU performance.

“We got embarrassed there,” said Cyclone guard Chassidy Cole, who had 11 assists Wednesday. “We're a much better team than when we played them (in early January).”

Added Williamson, who ended a 4-for-22 long range slump Wednesday: “We got embarrassed there. We're not going to embarrass ourselves here in front of 10,000 people who paid money to come watch us play.”

Trouble is, Oklahoma's better, too - and hasn't lost to ISU since falling 73-60 on Jan. 29, 2005, at Hilton.

The Sooners are 3-1 in their past four conference road games and played top-ranked Connecticut tough on Monday before losing, 73-55.

“Oklahoma's certainly playing at a high level,” Cyclone coach Bill Fennelly said. “They play fast. (Coach) Sherri (Coles') teams always play with an amazing amount of emotion. Whitney Hand is someone we all want on our team. I texted Sherri after the UConn game and said, ‘I am a card-carrying member of the Whitney Hand fan club.' That kid plays hard all the time.”

Saturday night's game caps an ISU hoops doubleheader.

The Cyclone men play the Sooners at 12:45 p.m.

Fennelly expects a large segment of the sellout crowd to stick around.

“Stay in town, help the economy a little bit,” Fennelly said. “Come back at 7.”

ISU also will observe “Play for Kay” day to increase breast cancer awareness and help support research.

“Hopefully we play better,” Fennelly said. “Pink has not been good to us, but it's a great event and we certainly hope fans will wear pink and come out and support a great cause.”