Tech storms past Cyclones in Big 12 contest at Hilton

AMES - So much for the start of a successful homestand.

Iowa State couldn't stop Mike Singletary, or anybody else wearing a Texas Tech uniform, in a 92-83 loss last night at Hilton Coliseum. Singletary scored 33 points, one of five Red Raiders in double figures, to go with 10 rebounds and six assists.

The Cyclones lost their third straight game and dropped to 14-7 overall and 1-5 in Big 12 play heading into Saturday's home game against Oklahoma. They were hoping to start their ascent up the league standings with three of the next four games at home.

Now, ISU sits in a last-place tie with Kansas State.

Diante Garrett scored a team-high 27 for ISU, the Big 12's top 3-point shooting team that was unexpectedly outscored from long range.

The Red Raiders - who'd just won their first league game last weekend - hit 7 of 12 from distance. ISU was 4 of 21, disappointing the announced crowd of 10,823 that included former Cyclone and current NFL quarterbacks Seneca Wallace and Sage Rosenfels.

The real issue was defense.

Tech shot 54.7 percent from the floor and had assists on 27 of its 35 field goals.

The Cyclones opened the second half with a dunk from Jamie Vanderbeken, then watched Texas Tech reel off the next 11 points.

A 3-pointer from John Roberson and two more Red Raider baskets kicked the lead up to 14 with just over 13 minutes to play. ISU made its run, as Garrett hit a 3-pointer and a conventional three-point play that drew Singletary's fourth foul.

The Tech senior didn't leave the game though, and kept hitting shots and helping his teammates free up for open ones as ISU was trying to rally.

Jake Anderson's 3-pointer from the corner drew the Cyclones to within 63-58 with nine minutes to go.

But Roberson hit another 3-pointer and Singletary made two short shots in the lane as ISU could not string together enough stops to really threaten the lead.

The Cyclones twice cut the lead to five in the final minute but could get no closer.

ISU trailed 37-33 at the break, and were lucky to be down only that much.

The Red Raiders led by double digits for a good stretch thanks to Singletary, who scored 16 of their first 22 points and hit 8 of his 12 first-half shots.

Garrett was key in bringing the Cyclones back with an array of driving layups and shots in the lane.

Scott Christopherson extended his streak with a 3-pointer to 23 games and Calvin Godfrey put back Garrett's miss just before the halftime buzzer to cut into Tech's lead.

Anderson (15) and Vanderbeken (13) were the only other Cyclones to hit double figures. Anderson added 12 rebounds and four steals.