High-flying Cyclones facing defensive-minded UNI

AMES - Iowa State knows it's not likely to put up the kind of offensive numbers tonight against Northern Iowa it has in its first six games. The Cyclones sure are going to try, though.

"We are going to get the rebound and run the ball up the court like we have every other game,” said guard Scott Christopherson, the team's third-leading scorer (14.7) and the nation's top 3-point shooter at 64.3 percent.

ISU (6-0) enters the 7 p.m. game at the McLeod Center averaging 84.3 points. The Panthers (2-2) haven't allowed an opponent to reach 70.

A lot of the credit goes to UNI's Ben Jacobson, who “is as good a defensive coach as there is in college basketball,” Cyclone coach Fred Hoiberg said.

“It's going to be tough to score a ton of points against this team because of the way they pack it in and force you to beat them from long range,” Hoiberg said. “We are going to try and play our style of basketball.”

That means getting everybody involved, which has been one of the most impressive things about this team. All five starters average in double figures, led by Diante Garrett's 17.5 points a game. The senior point guard is dishing a career-best 6.5 assists and running the show with newfound confidence.

“When you are out there playing with confidence, it's fun and you have a swagger,” Hoiberg said. “Diante definitely has that right now.”

Christopherson has had a terrific start. The 6-3 junior has hit 18 of 28 3-point attempts.

That accuracy has put a lot of pressure on defenses, especially when Garrett tries to drive the lane and Christopherson is standing nearby ready to fire from deep.

“The way we space the floor, it makes it harder for the other team's help defense,” he said. “They have to make a decision. So far it's been working pretty good.”

Christopherson, Garrett and forward Jamie Vanderbeken have posted career-best scoring games this season. Freshman Melvin Ejim is second on the team at 15.7 points a game.

“On any given day any of us can go for 20 and none of us cares who it is,” Vanderbeken said.

Tonight will be the Cyclones' first time in front of a hostile crowd, and it comes against a veteran group that has been in back-to-back NCAA tournaments.

“They've been the best basketball program in the state the last several years,” Hoiberg said. “We want to hold up our end. It's going to be a huge test for us. I think the world of that program.”