Ejim perks up just in time

AMES - No start, no problem.

Iowa State sophomore forward Melvin Ejim feels as comfortable coming off the bench as being part of the first five - and it's shown in the past two games.

“I went through a rough stretch and I'm starting to get out of it,” Ejim said. “I've shot the ball well and I've been rebounding well, so I think that's a good position to be in heading into the Big 12 (season).”

Ejim's rebounds per game average has risen from 5.2 to 6.3 thanks to consecutive double-digit efforts, including a career-best 15 boards in Saturday's win over Mississippi Valley State. He's also shot 50 percent or better from the field in five straight games after enduring a two-game scoreless streak.

The Cyclones (10-3) face Texas (10-3) in a Big 12 opener Wednesday night at 8 in Hilton Coliseum.

“It was going the wrong way for me for a while,” Ejim said. “It feels good to be out of that slump and doing well.”

Speaking of slumps, Cyclone guard Chris Babb's trying to overcome a lengthy one. Through seven games, Babb hit 52 percent of his 3-point attempts (25 of 48). In the past six, he's made seven of 40 tries from beyond the arc, or 17.5 percent.

“It's much more mental than anything else,” Coach Fred Hoiberg said of shooting downturns. “You raise up and you start thinking, ‘Oh, is this going in?' Then it affects your stroke a little bit. ... You've just got to trust it.”

The Cyclones hope to break a teamwide slump against the Longhorns. Texas has won seven straight in the series, including three in a row at Hilton.

“Ton of talent,” Hoiberg said, “They've got one of the best players not only in the conference but in the country in J'Covan Brown (19.3 points per game). He's really stepped up his game this year. It's going to be tough for one person to stop him.”

Same goes for ISU big man Royce White - if he's healthy. White sat out 37 of 40 minutes of the win over Mississippi Valley State, bothered by flu-like symptoms. He stayed in the locker room for the second half.

Hoiberg said White was able to keep down some chicken noodle soup and a soft drink Sunday night, but didn't practice with the team that day. “We anticipate him being at full strength,” Hoiberg said.

The Cyclones will need him - along with renewed general vigor - as they face Texas, Texas A&M, No. 7 Missouri and No. 14 Kansas in an 11-day span.

“Every team's capable and every team has good players,” Ejim said. “It's a grind and if you don't bring it, you'll lose.”

SLUMP, TAKE 2: Chris Allen's up and down season continued Friday.

Allen managed eight points, but struggled both from the field (2-for-8) and the free-throw line (3-for-6) while comitting three turnovers.

He scored a season high-tying 23 points the previous game against Lipscomb, but has been held below double figures in three of the past four outings.

“Some days I'm feeling like I can do stuff,” said Allen, who reached double figures in scoring in eight of the first nine games. “It's really just a confidence thing. Sometimes you've got it, sometimes you don't. In this case, it's really just a mind thing. I've got to get my mind right. Focus in more on things.”