Allen's move to one spot has ISU pointing up

AMES - Iowa State coach Fred Hoiberg's experiment worked.

The Cyclones appear to have found their primary point guard - and it's former Michigan State shooting guard Chris Allen.

“I'm happy he did it,” said Allen, who owns a 12-to-1 assist to turnover ratio the past two games. “And I hope everybody else is, too.”

So far, so good.

Now it's time for Friday's 7 p.m. Cy-Hawk Series test against Iowa at Hilton Coliseum.

The Cyclones (6-3) have won four straight games at home over the Hawkeyes (5-4).

“It's big,” said ISU forward Royce White, who leads the team in points (14.8), rebounds (9.9) and assists (4.2). “You go anywhere local, you know about the rivalry. It's big for everybody.”

The Cyclones dropped games to Drake and Northern Iowa already, but haven't been swept by their three intra-state rivals since the 2006-07 season.

“After losing to two teams in state, that just made my rivalry with Iowa kind of the same as everybody else's,” Allen said. “I'm definitely feeling it now and I'm ready.”

Hoiberg isn't quite prepared to entirely commit to Allen as the main trigger man for the offense.

Before Tuesday's 84-59 win over Prairie View A&M, Allen shared point guard duties with Scott Christopherson and reserve Bubu Palo.

“We'll look at that (in practice) and see what direction we'll go with it,” Hoiberg said.

Christopherson said being back at the two feels more natural to him.

He shot 43.5 percent from 3-point range his first three seasons, but is hitting 38.2 percent this year.

“I don't think it's something that will take too long,” Christopherson said. “It's what I'm used to, kind of the way I've played my whole life.”

White's played a different game for a big man since middle school.

He wasn't as tall then, so learned to dribble like a guard.

White's passing ability presents unique opportunities for fellow post players such as freshman Percy Gibson, who scored a career-high 15 points Tuesday.

“He's definitely a great passer,” Gibson said. “And he definitely draws double teams, so you just have to find your position and score.”

The one-two interior punch of White and Gibson could prove potent in the long term.

“His style of play really complements the way that I play,” White said.

And most of the time, Allen will likely be bringing those moving, developing parts together.

“He really seemed to have a calming influence on the offense,” said Hoiberg, who is 4-1 as a player and coach in Cy-Hawk matchups. “Scotty, even though he didn't shoot the ball great, had some very good looks at the basket and it looked to be a more natural role for him.”