McKay’s career night powers Iowa State to 106-64 win

AMES - It was open, so Jameel McKay took advantage every chance he could.

Time and again, the Iowa State senior forward saw the gaps around the rim and knew if the ball was in the right spot, it was going to be an easy finish.

On a night when the Cyclones needed a spark to pull away from an inferior opponent, McKay had the most prolific night of his career in Ames.

'Every game I just try to be the best player in the country and play off my teammates because I know they're going to get me if I'm open,” McKay said. 'I just try to find the open spot and they did a great job today of getting me the ball.”

McKay's 25 points, 11 rebounds, two blocks and nine dunks picked No. 7 Iowa State up en route to a 106-64 win against Chicago State. His career-high scoring night and sixth career double-double was the product of a methodic game plan to attack the Cougars (1-1) zone around the rim.

The Cyclones (2-0) struggled out of the gate to a 14-9 lead behind eight points and two rebounds from McKay while Chicago State committed seven team fouls in the first 4:03. Iowa State also started 0-of-6 from 3-point range before junior Monte Morris buried a 3 - he finished with 14 points, three rebounds and eight assists - but it was McKay that kept everybody focused under the CSU pressure.

'Jameel really deserved today because I feel like everybody at some point was getting down on themselves today in the first half, especially myself,” said Naz Mitrou-Long, who finished with 14 points and four rebounds. 'And Jameel was the first one to say, ‘Stay positive.' I feel like he got everything he deserved today and it's because he stayed positive.”

Iowa State went on a 13-0 run out of the locker room - after holding just a 14-point halftime lead due to eight turnovers - including an 8-0 run to begin from senior Abdel Nader. McKay collected his seventh dunk on the ensuing possession before senior Georges Niang - 11 points, four rebounds and eight assists - hit a 3-pointer to blow the game open.

But the catalyst for offensive efficiency continued to be Mckay.

'His energy, his activity; even the rebounds that he didn't get, I thought he kept rebounds alive,” said Iowa State coach Steve Prohm. 'Especially if you remember the one play in the second half. He tipped one, Dooley gets it, lays it in and that was basically an assist for Jameel.

'He changed shots around the rim, finished around the basket and he was a presence all night.”

No red-shirt for Ernst

Iowa State cleared its bench in the final eight minutes of its win against Chicago State with Simeon Carter, Brady Ernst, Jordan Ashton and Stuart Nezlek all seeing action for the first time this season.

Cyclones coach Steve Prohm said the possibility of red-shirting Ernst was on the table in the preseason, but after foul trouble against Colorado and Big 12 play on the horizon the coaching staff needed another physical presence to develop around the rim.

'I think you saw some good moments from him tonight in the little that he played,” Prohm said. 'We're all in, he's all in and we're moving forward.”

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