Christopherson leads Iowa State past Lipscomb 81-64

AMES - Scott Christopherson scored a season-high 24 points and Iowa State withstood 30 points from Ames native Jordan Burgason to beat Lipscomb 81-64 Wednesday night for its fourth straight victory.

Chris Allen matched his career high with 23 points for the Cyclones (9-3), who built a 10-point lead in the first half, saw Lipscomb get within four early in the second half, then scored 20 of the next 29 points to take control.

Christopherson buried a 3-pointer from the left corner after taking a behind-the-back pass from Royce White to put the Cyclones up 58-45. White later blocked a shot, grabbed the ball and hit Percy Gibson for a layup to extend the lead to 63-48.

Lipscomb (6-8) was playing the fourth of seven straight road games. The Bison have lost all four.

Burgason, whose father Steve played at Iowa State from 1974-78, played at Ames High School with North Carolina star Harrison Barnes and Creighton standout Doug McDermott. He made 10 of 16 shots from the field, including a career-high nine 3-pointers in 14 attempts in his first game in his hometown as a collegian.

The crowd gave Burgason a standing ovation when the 6-foot-3 senior left the game with a little more than a minute remaining. The Iowa State fans probably were happy to see him out of the game. His nine 3s tied the Hilton Coliseum record.

Burgason kept knocking down shots after Iowa State opened its big lead and his long 3 drew the Bison within 67-59 with 5:15 remaining. When Justin Glenn scored inside, the Bison trailed just 68-61.

But Allen was fouled as he scored on a drive and sank the free throw to complete a three-point play, and White fed Tyrus McGee for a dunk after grabbing a rebound to return the momentum to the Cyclones.

White scored only six points, nine below his team-leading average, but he grabbed 10 rebounds, handed out eight assists and blocked two shots.

Lipscomb kept it close early until Iowa State finally asserted itself over the final four minutes of the first half, going on a 10-2 run to open a 38-28 lead.

Christopherson converted a three-point play on a drive to start the burst, then hit a 3-pointer from the left corner after Malcom Smith scored for the Bison. When Iowa State's Melvin Ejim missed a 3-point attempt, he followed his shot, White grabbed the rebound and fed Ejim going to the basket for a layup, making it 35-28.

McGee's 3-pointer stretched the lead to 10 before Lipscomb's Deonte Alexander sank two free throws for the final points of the half.

Iowa State jumped on the Bison early. Gipson got a couple of quick buckets inside and Allen knocked down a pair of 3s to help the Cyclones take a 14-7 lead. They led 17-9 after Ejim scored inside then, as they have done often this season, let the opponent back in it.

Burgason hit two 3-pointers and sank a free throw to spark a 15-6 run that put Lipscomb ahead 24-23 - their only lead of the game.

Quick baskets by Christopherson and Allen put the Cyclones back on top. Martin Smith's putback drew Lipscomb within 27-26 before Christopherson's three-point play triggered his team's strong finish to the half.

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.