Iowa State works on defense, ‘rim running’

AMES - Iowa State settled into its three-quarter-court pressure defense with the game far from in doubt.

Steve Prohm was intently watching, standing several feet from his seat on the bench and frantically directing the press as if the game was tied in the final minute. That's how much emphasis the Cyclones men's basketball team has put on its defense effort.

'I thought we were aggressive,” Prohm, in his second season at Iowa State, said following his team's 101-57 win against Sioux Falls. 'We contested a ton of shots. In the second half, those strengths were just OK.

'It's hard to maintain that in some of these games like this.”

Iowa State's defense, which forced 20 turnovers and held Sioux Falls to 32.4 percent shooting, was complemented by a blistering offense. Senior guards Naz Mitrou-Long and Matt Thomas finished with 24 and 13 points, respectively, while combining to shoot 9-for-14 from 3-point range.

The Cyclones shot 51.9 percent from the field and 57.7 percent from long range, while guard Deonte Burton (16) and freshman forward Solomon Young (12) also scored in double figures. Iowa State had an edge in fast break points 24 to 2, and in addition to defense, wants to ensure it maintains pace of play the entire game.

A 35-5 run in the final 12:31 of the first half - as well as forcing five turnovers in the last 9:12 of the period - helped the Cyclones run out to a 56-18 lead at the break.

'Whenever we've got a big lead we just need to sustain it,” Mitrou-Long said. 'Honestly I thought our offense was really good. We were moving the ball well, but that's a given. Like Coach P said, we're going to play well offensively. We have enough weapons. We just need to get better, I think, at rim running and rebounding.”

Part of what Iowa State wanted to accomplish in its only public exhibition, in addition to its defensive scheme, was integrated the number of new players with its veterans.

Louisiana Tech graduate transfer Merrill Holden was the fifth starter and had two points, three rebounds and four blocks.

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