Iowa State men move to 5-0 with easy win over Tennessee State

It's not surprising that Iowa State has started 5-0, given its cushy schedule.

It's how easily the Cyclones have won those games that's raised some eyebrows.

Marquis Gilstrap had 18 points and 10 rebounds for his second double-double and Iowa State never trailed in cruising past Tennessee State 84-53 Tuesday night.

Diante Garrett added 11 points and seven assists for the Cyclones (5-0), who hit their first 10 attempts from the floor and shot 61.5 percent.

Iowa State has beaten each of its five opponents by at least 20 points - and its last two by an average of 36 points - behind a revamped roster led by Gilstrap, the Big 12's preseason Newcomer of the Year.

The Cyclones have gotten off to similar starts under coach Greg McDermott, but they haven't looked this impressive in doing so.

"We're 5-0, and we've done it in a fashion that's been more dominating than it has been in the past when we've been 4-0, 5-0 the last couple of years," said Iowa State coach Greg McDermott, who hasn't had a winning season in three years with the Cyclones. "From that standpoint, I've very pleased. What I'm even more excited about is, I don't think we've even scratched our potential."

Iowa State jumped ahead by as much as 31-11 over the winless Tigers, who have started the season 0-4 for the first time since 1999-2000.

Tennessee State closed within 14 by the break, but the Cyclones opened the second half with a 19-4 run and never looked back.

Josh Sain had 12 points to lead Tennessee State, which suffered its biggest loss of the season.

Tennessee State made a brief push late in the first half to cut Iowa State's lead to 40-26. But any hopes the Tigers had for a comeback were short-lived.

The Cyclones pushed their lead back over 20 points less than three minutes into the second half, as 3-pointers from Gilstrap and Lucca Staiger helped put them back on top 50-28. Brackins then found Garrett for a 3-point play in transition as Iowa State's edge grew to 59-30 with 15 minutes left.

Tennessee State committed 18 turnovers and is still searching for its first win under new head coach John Cooper.

The Tigers, who were picked to finish ninth in the 10-team Ohio Valley Conference, hung with Northwestern on Sunday before falling 69-62. The Wildcats needed a late run to put away Tennessee State, but Iowa State has made a habit out of putting opponents away early.

The Cyclones did it again on Tuesday night, hitting every shot they took in the first nine minutes.

Garrett keyed Iowa State's opening run, using his quickness to dish out a pair of assists and hit two baskets in the paint to help put Iowa State ahead 15-2. He nearly found Gilstrap on a botched alley-oop, but Justin Hamilton scooped up the loose ball for a putback with the rim still shaking.

Garrett and Gilstrap finally connected for a highlight-reel dunk with 8:08 left in the first half, as Gilstrap caught the ball behind his head and threw it down to put the Cyclones ahead 28-11. Brackins made it a 20-point lead on a pull-up 3-pointer with 6:33 left before the break.

"I didn't know which Tennessee State team we'd see," McDermott said. "I knew what they were capable of, but I also felt that our pressure could wear into them."

Brackins had 12 points for the Cyclones, who shot 18 of 25 from the floor and outscored Tennessee State 32-10 in the paint in the first half.

Iowa State's easy early slate comes to an end this weekend.

The Cyclones play Saint Louis on Friday and either Notre Dame or Northwestern on Saturday in the Chicago Invitational. Iowa State returns home next week to face in-state rival Northern Iowa, the preseason pick to win the Missouri Valley Conference, before traveling to play California in the Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Series on Dec 5.

"I think we'll be ready for it," Garrett said.

-- Associated Press