Allen's game opens up for Cyclones in win over Lipscomb

AMES - Iowa State guard Chris Allen screamed “aaaahh” as one of his 3-point shots spun through the air.

The next noise heard: swish.

Allen tied a season-best scoring effort Wednesday, helping his team withstand Ames native Jordan Burgason's 3-point barrage as the Cyclones beat Lipscomb 81-64 before a crowd of 11,513 at Hilton Coliseum.

“I feel like we took a step in the right direction,” said Allen, who went 4-for-9 on 3-pointers.

The transfer from Michigan State scored 23 points after notching a combined 11 in the previous two games.

Scott Christopherson also shined for the Cyclones, compiling a season-high 24 points.

“I thought we had a good flow to us offensively,” he said. “We had that thing moving from side to side and I ended up getting quite a few open looks.”

Burgason - whose father, Steve recorded 500-plus points and rebounds for ISU - poured in 30 points while fulfilling a dream to play at Hilton.

“He had a three on everybody that tried to guard him,” Allen said.

And though the final result didn't meet Burgason's expectations, his performance proved scintillating.

The crowd gave him a standing ovation as he was lifted late in the game.

“It was a great opportunity,” said Burgason, who fell one point short of tying a career high in single-game scoring. “I just wish we'd been able to pull off the win, but it was great to be back home.”

He drilled a career-best and Hilton record-tying nine 3-pointers, missing just five shots from beyond the arc.

Former Cyclone sharpshooter Dedric Willoughby also sank nine from long range on Feb. 9, 1997.

“I can't believe he missed five,” Cyclone coach Fred Hoiberg said. “It was one of those nights as a shooter you dream about.”

But Burgason's effort wasn't enough for the upstart Bison (6-8), who pulled within seven at 68-61 with 4:39 left before ISU (9-3) used a 13-3 run to pull away for the 17-point triumph.

The other Lipscomb players shot 15 of 49 from the field (31 percent).

“Those guys can fire them in there and they score 64,” Hoiberg said. “So (another) pretty good defensive effort.”

The Cyclones flashed plenty of offense early, riding a 7-0 run capped by Chris Allen's second 3-pointer to a 14-7 lead with 16 minutes left in the first half.

ISU lost its groove for about six minutes, however, and Lipscomb would take advantage.

The Bison uncorked a 15-6 run spurred by Burgason 3-pointers and eventually led briefly, at 24-23, after Deonte Alexander's floater with 6:07 left.

The Cyclones countered with their own 15-6 run highlighted by 10 points from Christopherson and held a 38-30 advantage at the break.

Burgason ended up with 12 points the break, including three 3-pointers.

Percy Gibson and Tyrus McGee scored eight points apiece for the Cyclones.

Royce White and Melvin Ejim grabbed 10 rebounds each.

White added six points, eight assists and three blocked shots.

“He did a lot of things very well,” Hoiberg said.

ISU won its fourth straight game since losing 76-66 early this month at top-20 Michigan.

The Cyclones conclude their non-conference slate at noon Dec. 31 against Mississippi Valley State at Hilton.

“I like these guys,” Hoiberg said. “They're starting to come together as a team and starting to get it.”

LIPSCOMB (6-8)

Alexander 1-11 2-2 4, Arnett 2-7 0-0 4, Burgason 10-16 1-2 30, Glenn 5-7 0-0 10, D. Smith 2-8 0-0 4, Sanderson 0-2 0-2 0, Mar. Smith 3-7 1-3 8, Mal. Smith 1-2 0-2 2, M. Williams 1-5 0-0 2. Totals 25-65 4-11 64.

IOWA ST. (9-3)

Babb 1-7 0-0 3, Allen 6-14 7-7 23, Christopherson 8-14 4-4 24, Gibson 3-4 2-4 8, White 2-3 2-5 6, Palo 0-0 2-2 2, Ejim 3-6 0-0 6, Booker 0-0 1-4 1, McGee 2-6 3-4 8. Totals 25-54 21-30 81.

Halftime_Iowa St. 38-30. 3-Point Goals_Lipscomb 10-27 (Burgason 9-14, Mar. Smith 1-3, Sanderson 0-1, D. Smith 0-1, Alexander 0-4, Arnett 0-4), Iowa St. 10-28 (Christopherson 4-8, Allen 4-9, McGee 1-3, Babb 1-6, Ejim 0-2). Fouled Out_None. Rebounds_Lipscomb 34 (Glenn 9), Iowa St. 41 (Ejim, White 10). Assists_Lipscomb 14 (Alexander 4), Iowa St. 15 (White 8). Total Fouls_Lipscomb 21, Iowa St. 14. A_11,513.