What an amazing game to cover. Thank you so much for joining us at VAVEL USA. My name is Matthew Evans. Have a great night!
The First Star tonight is Georges Niang from Iowa State. Niang scored 23 points and grabbed eight rebounds on the night. It was a personal 5-0 run that jumpstarted the Iowa State comeback. 20 of his 23 points came in the second half.
The Second Star tonight is Monte Morris from Iowa State. Morris scored 19 points on the night, 17 of those came in the second half including all of his three-point shots. Morris likely could have scored more had he not suffered an eye injury which kept off the floor for a few minutes.
The Third Star tonight is Buddy Heild from Oklahoma. He scored 26 points including four three-pointers in the losing effort.
Usually we will give out a player of the game but with the performances tonight, we'll take a page from our hockey friends and give away three stars.
What a game. That was magic for sure, Iowa State looked dead in the water with 15 minutes to go but they found a spark. Boy howdy did they ever. Iowa State will be a dangerous tournament team if they play like they did in the second half.
Final Score: Iowa State 77, Oklahoma 70
2nd (0:00): Oklahoma gets one last look at the buzzer but the shot is missed.
2nd (0:10): Nader is called for the foul. Hield makes the first free throw. His second is good. 77-70 Iowa State
2nd (0:21): Oklahoma throws up a wild three pointer that doesn't hit anything. They foul on the Cyclones rebound. McKay to the line where he makes the first shot. The second shot is no good. 77-68 Iowa State
2nd (0:29): Naz Long is fouled on the inbounds play. His first shot is good. His second shot is good. 76-68 Iowa State
2nd (0:31): A big turnover for Oklahoma as Spengler travels after the inbounds play.
2nd (0:37): The first shot is good. The second shot is good. The third shot is missed. Oklahoma ends up with the ball though after the rebound bounces around and out of bounds. 74-68 Iowa State.
2nd (0:37): Niang fouls out! Oh boy, that could be huge. Three free throws are coming up for Frank Booker.
2nd (0:43): McKay at the free throw line, he makes the first. The second is no good. 74-66 Iowa State
2nd (0:43): Woodard drives to the bucket where he is fouled by Hogue. Hogue has fouled out. The first shot for Woodard is good. The second shot is missed. 73-66 Iowa State. Spangler is called for a foul after the free throw was missed.
2nd (0:49): Nader goes to the line for Iowa State. The first shot is good. The second shot is good. 73-65 Iowa State
2nd (0:56): Hield with the drive and the foul, AND ONE! Wow what a play. His free throw is no good. Oklahoma gets the rebound but Hield misses a three pointer. 71-65 Iowa State
2nd (1:21): Woodard goes to the line when he makes one of two free throws. 71-63 Iowa State
2nd (1:28): DUNK! ABDEL NADER!!! Iowa State converts on the fast break after the turnover from Hield. 71-62 Iowa State
2nd (1:59): Iowa State running down the clock on this possession.
2nd (2:12): Thomas at the line, his first shot is no good. The second is no good!
2nd (2:22): TaShawn Thomas cannot finish on the inbounds play. He fouls Jameel McKay. A one-and-one coming up. The first shot is no good. Iowa State grabs the rebound but they are called for traveling.
Iowa State is currently on a 41-14 run since the technical foul
Media Timeout: Iowa State 69, Oklahoma 62
2nd (3:10): Thomas dishes off to Spangler down low. 69-62 Iowa State. Timeout Iowa State
2nd (3:41): Morris misses the floater but Hogue is there for the putback. 69-60 Iowa State
2nd (4:09): Hield is fouled by Niang on the drive. That is four fouls on Niang. The first free throw is good. The second is good. 67-60 Iowa State
2nd (4:28): Niang to the line for a one-and-one, he hits the first. The second shot is good. 67-58 Iowa State
What a game this has been.
2nd (4:49): Morris and Cousins exchange buckets. 65-58 Iowa State.
2nd (5:21): Niang with another bucket on the turnaround jumper. 63-56 Iowa State
2nd (5:38): Spangler is called for a foul on the inbounds play.
2nd (5:38): Timeout Iowa State
2nd (6:22): Cousins finally breaks the field goal drought. Hield steals the ball and dunks. The pace is up and down now with an Iowa State layup. 61-56 Iowa State
2nd (6:42): NIANG FOR THREE! He is on fire! 59-52 Iowa State
2nd (7:31): Niang is starting to heat up as he hits the runner. 56-52 Iowa State
2nd (7:54): Niang finds space down low and hits the bucket. TaShawn Thomas appears to tie the game but he is called for traveling. 54-52 Iowa State
2nd (8:13): A foul on the other end as Oklahoma drives to the bucket. Morris was down behind the play, he is now on the bench being treated for what looks to be an eye injury. Meanwhile, Hield makes both free throws to tie the game. 52-52
2nd (8:16): Monte Morris with the big offensive rebound and the putback. What a hustle play from Morris. 52-50 Iowa State
2nd (9:14): Thomas will go back to the line after another foul on a drive. The first shot is good. The second shot is good. 50-50
2nd (9:33): HOGUE FOR THREE!!! 50-48 Iowa State
2nd (10:04): Hield misses on the jumper, the ball is out to Iowa State.
2nd (10:32): Monte Morris with the drive, the bucket, and the foul! This free throw would tie the game. The free throw is missed! 48-47 Oklahoma.
2nd (10:43): Thomas will go to the line after drawing a foul. His first shot is no good. His second shot is no good!
Media Timeout: Oklahoma 48, Iowa State 45
2nd (10:57): Hogue passes up a wide-open three to drive to the bucket where he is called for the offensive foul.
What an atmosphere in Ames
Iowa State is on a 17-0 run right now! The Hilton Coliseum is ROCKING!
2nd (12:02): Niang finishes with the right hand off the glass. Steal. DUNK!!!! DUSTIN HOGUE!!! TIMEOUT OKLAHOMA!!! 48-45 Oklahoma
2nd (12:15): Oklahoma cannot find a bucket now.
2nd (12:43): Niang with the steal and Morris with the bucket on the fast break. 48-41 Oklahoma
2nd (13:22): Monte Morris hits another wide open three! 48-39 Oklahoma
2nd (13:37): Shot clock violation on Oklahoma. A bucket here would here huge for Iowa State.
Hilton Coliseum is rocking as the Cyclones are on an 8-0 run
2nd (14:04): Timeout Oklahoma
2nd (14:14): MORRIS FOR THREE! 48-36 Oklahoma
2nd (14:55): Cousins was called for a technical foul as ESPN went to break. Niang went to the free throw line and made both shots. On the ensuing possession, he drives to the bucket and finishes while being fouled. That free throw is good. 48-33 Oklahoma
Media Timeout: Oklahoma 48, Iowa State 28
2nd (15:10): Buddy Hield sinks a wide open three pointer. BLOCK!!!! Spangler sends a shot back into the first row. What a block! 48-28 Oklahoma
2nd (15:40): Woodard with a sweet jumped on the fast break. 45-28 Oklahoma
2nd (16:25): Naz Long for three! The crowd is getting back into this game. 43-28 Oklahoma
2nd (16:29): Iowa State gets lucky as Oklahoma turns the ball over after a possession in which the Cyclones missed three shots.
2nd (17:10): Spangler makes one of two free throws but Thomas gets the offensive rebound. The ball is out of bounds but it stays with Oklahoma. 43-25 Oklahoma
2nd (17:10): Monte Morris from downtown for Iowa State! 42-25 Oklahoma
2nd (17:50): Niang with the shot off the window but Cousins answers with a three. 42-22 Oklahoma
2nd (18:33): McKay with the offensive rebound and the putback. He has 12 points now. 39-20 Oklahoma
2nd (19:00): Hield with a quick move to the basket and he finishes it easily. 39-18 Oklahoma
2nd (19:34): Two quick turnovers from Iowa State to start the half.
2nd (20:00): Iowa State brings the ball inbounds and we are underway for the secon half.
We are getting ready for the second half now. Can Iowa State find their range from three-point land or will we be in for more domination from the Sooners?
Jameel McKay is having a great game so far for Iowa State. He has scored 10 of the 18 points for the Cyclones while shooting 5-of-7 off the bench. The rest of the team is shooting just 3-of-17 from the floor.
Halftime: Oklahoma 37, Iowa State 18
1st (0:00): Spangler attempts a three pointer at the buzzer that rattles out.
1st (0:18): Iowa State cannot buy a basket as McKay misses from down low.
1st (1:00): Niang is fouled going to the bucket. 37-18 Oklahoma
Holly Rowe reporting that none of the Texas players that were ejected tonight will be suspended this weekend. They all came off the bench which is what prompted their ejection.
Media Timeout: Oklahoma 35, Iowa State 18
1st (1:48): THREE! Buddy Hield with a cold-blooded three from the elbow. A great dribble move to earn some space. McKay scoreds on the other end for Iowa State. 35-18 Oklahoma
1st (3:05): McKay finally breaks the scoreless drought but Woodard answers with a deuce on the other end. 32-16 Oklahoma
1st (4:20): Jordan Woodard hits a pull back jumper from the free throw line after the timeout. 30-14 Oklahoma
1st (4:33): Timeout Oklahoma
1st (4:34): BLOCK! Niang stuffs Thomas on the drive to the basket.
1st (4:47): Another turnover from Iowa State. They need some points and fast.
1st (5:06): Hield goes to the line after a foul at the top of the key. His first shot is good. His second shot is good. 28-14 Oklahoma
1st (5:24): Wow! Monte Morris is called for a foul as the shot clock is running out. That is a very poor decision by Morris.
1st (6:00): A poor decision to throw up an alley oop on a fast break by Iowa State leads to another turnover.
1st (6:16): Foul called on Iowa State. Oklahoma with a fresh shot clock.
Media Timeout: Oklahoma 26, Iowa State 14
1st (6:47): Iowa State turns the ball over for the 8th time already.
1st (7:20): DUNK! Isaiah Cousins with the steal and the runaway jam. 26-14 Oklahoma. Timeout Iowa State
1st (8:25): Ryan Spangler makes a 16-foot shot followed by a bucket from Buddy Hield. 24-14 Oklahoma
1st (8:43): Nader with the drive to the bucket but he is called for the offensive foul.
1st (9:17): Thomas hits the first free throw and misses the second. 19-14 Oklahoma
Media Timeout: Oklahoma 19, Iowa State 13
1st (9:17): Thomas earns the foul on a shot as we reach the under-12 media timeout.
1st (10:08): McKay misses a hook shot which leads to missed three pointers on both ends.
1st (11:03): McKay with the fadeaway. 19-13 Oklahoma
1st (11:51): Jameel McKay backs his man down to the hoop for a left-handed layup. Ryan Spangler responds with another tip-in. 19-11 Oklahoma
1st (12:30): Ryan Spangler with a beautiful tip in off the missed layup. 17-9 Oklahoma.
Score Update: Texas 61, Baylor 59. Final/Overtime
1st (13:00): TaShawn Thomas with a smooth drive to the basket for two. 15-9 Oklahoma
1st (13:25): Matt Thomas with a big shot from the corner. 13-9 Oklahoma
1st (14:08): Man, Niang is quite a basketball player. He is a smooth shooter and can handle the ball well for a player his size.
1st (14:45): Wow a big fouled called on Naz Long as Frank Booker is hit while shooting a three with the shot clock winding down. The first shot is good. The second shot is good. The third shot is good. 13-7 Oklahoma
1st (15:53): Georges Niang sinks a three pointer from the corner after the timeout. 10-5 Oklahoma
Wow an update from Baylor and Texas, apparently seven players were ejected after a fight in overtime. The game is still tied in overtime.
Iowa State is off to a slow start but that can happen on Senior Day. Three seniors getting the start for the Cyclones and the lack of chemistry was evident.
Media Timeout: Oklahoma 10, Iowa State 2
1st (16:31): Thomas misses an easy layup after a great individual effort from the point guard.
1st (17:05): Three! Isaiah Cousins hits nothing but net on the three point attempt. 10-2 Oklahoma
1st (17:35): Iowa State on the board after a runner from Monte Morris. 7-2 Oklahoma
1st (17:55): Thomas finishes on the fast break for OU. 7-0 Oklahoma
1st (18:36): Sloppy play from the Cyclones. Oklahoma is playing some very good defense to start.
1st (19:38): Jordan Woodard sinks the first basket of the night for the Sooners. Niang misses on the other end. Hield hits a three for OU. 5-0 Oklahoma
1st (20:00): Iowa State wins the tip and we are underway. A backcourt violation starts us off.
Gotta love the Musburger. It is Senior Night in Ames tonight so we may start a little late due to ceremonies.
We are in for a treat, Brent Musburger is on the call tonight. "You are looking live at Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa."
The Virginia Cavaliers beat Syracuse tonight to improve to 28-1 on the season. They will finish ACC play on Saturday away to Louisville.
A poor shot choice from Texas and they will go to overtime in Austin. We will keep you posted on the final from that game.
A big block from Texas will give them the ball with 28.8 seconds left and a chance to have the last possession.
WE ARE TIED! Wow a clutch three-pointer from NBA range. 54-54 with less than a minute to go.
Wow, a tight one in Austin. Baylor 54, Texas 51 with 1:15 left. Texas with the ball.
Looking back at our game for a moment, a win tonight for either team will likely boost them to a #4 seed in tonight's VAVEL Bracketology. More than likely that would be at the expense of Utah. Utah and West Virginia are level with a rating of 0.600 but results could boost West Virginia's mark due to their conference strength number.
Virginia is currently the #2 overall seed in the latest VAVEL Bracketology and it seems like their place on the #1 line is pretty solid. The only factors that could knock them off that line is if they lose before the ACC Championship Game. That coupled with Conference Tournament wins by Duke and a combination of Wisconsin, Villanova, or Arizona could see the Cavaliers fall to a #2 seed.
The game going on right before ours on ESPN is an ACC matchup between Virginia and Syracuse. Syracuse would be a bubble team had they not declared themselves ineligible for the postseason a little earlier in the year.
Baylor is holding tough in their game with Texas right now as the score is 46-38 with seven minutes to play.
We are also watching a few games out of the Southland Conference tonight as their regular season title will be decided between Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston State.
One other Big 12 game on the docket tonight as the Baylor Bears are playing at the Texas Longhorns. Baylor currently holds a 31-24 lead late in the first half.
How do you see our game playing out tonight? Can Oklahoma score a big road win or will Iowa State hold on their home floor? Tip off is just less than two hours away.
When Niang was struggling in the first Oklahoma-Iowa State game it would be 6-foot-9 junior forward Jameel McKay to step for the Cyclones in that loss. The Marquette transfer scored 16 points and grabbed nine rebounds though it wasn’t enough. McKay has only played in 19 games this season but he is still the team’s leading rebounder per average. If he can establish himself as a threat early, he may open up space for Niang to take over.
6-foot-8 junior Georges Niang. He is the fourth-leading scorer in the conference at 14.8 points per game. Unfortunately for a big man, he only grabs 5.4 rebounds per game which could be a problem tonight against a good Oklahoma team. Niang struggled in the first meeting between the two schools this year with only seven points and six rebounds on 3-of-9 shooting.
Here is a look at the players to watch for the Iowa State Cyclones:
Before this recent loss to Baylor at home, you’d have to go back to January 13th, 2014 to find the last home defeat by Iowa State. That came at the hands of Kansas in a wild 77-70 game.
The Iowa State Cyclones come into tonight’s game on a two-game losing streak. They fell at home to Baylor just a week ago before suffering a heartbreaking loss last Saturday at Kansas State. Iowa State had been as high as a #4 seed in recent VAVEL Bracketology pieces but this pair of losses has dropped them to a #5 seed. Another loss tonight could see them fall even further.
A pair of 6-foot-8 forwards also make the watch list for tonight’s game, they are TaShawn Thomas and Ryan Spangler. They make up the front court for the Sooners. Thomas and Spangler combine for 21.5 points and 13.8 rebounds per game. They are a big reason why Oklahoma grabs almost 38 rebounds per game. Tonight it will be important for both of them to step up defensively to contain Georges Niang. Force Iowa State to go to their second and third scoring options; that could be a key to victory.
6-foot-4 junior guard Buddy Hield. He is the conference’s leading scorer with 17.0 points per game. He has scored less than 10 points in only three of the 28 games so far. He is a pure shooter who has the ability to carry the team when he gets going. His 75 three-pointers is good for first in the Big 12, as well as his 164 total field goals made.
Here is a look at the players to watch for the Oklahoma Sooners:
Factor in a Valentine’s Day loss on the road to Kansas State and the struggles to beat last-place Texas Tech in overtime. The road is not a happy place for the Sooners.
Another cause for concern if you are an Oklahoma Sooners fan is that four of the five conference losses this season have been on the road. Three of those have been against ranked opponents (#16 West Virginia, #11 Kansas, #21 Baylor).
Oklahoma comes into tonight’s game on a three-game winning streak. Those games were much closer though than Sooner fans would have liked to see; a two-point win at home to Texas, a seven-point win at home over TCU, and a four-point overtime win on the road at Texas Tech.
For those who love chaos, there is a possibility of a five-way tie for the Big 12 Regular Season Title. Kansas would need to lose to both West Virginia and Oklahoma. Oklahoma would need to lose to Iowa State and beat Kansas. West Virginia would need to beat Kansas and Oklahoma State. Baylor would need to beat Texas and Texas Tech. Iowa State would need to beat Oklahoma and TCU. If all of that happens, there will be a five-way tie for the Big 12 Title.
We mentioned the Big 12 Tournament as well, most teams are down to just two remaining regular season games. Oklahoma is currently in second place, one game behind Kansas for the Regular Season Title. Iowa State is tied for third with Baylor and West Virginia, two games behind Kansas for the Regular Season Title.
If the tournament were to start today according to VAVEL Bracketology, both Iowa State and Oklahoma would be in line for 5-seeds with very difficult match-ups against the better of the lower Conference Champions. Iowa State would be matched up with Stephen F. Austin while Oklahoma would be paired with Murray State.
Tonight’s game is huge not only for the seeding implications for the NCAA Tournament but also the Big 12 Tournament taking place next week in Kansas City, Missouri.
Our game tonight is a huge match-up in the Big 12 Conference as the Oklahoma Sooners (20-8, 11-5) travel north to take on the Iowa State Cyclones (20-8, 10-6).
Good evening and welcome to VAVEL USA’s live coverage of NCAA College Basketball. We are on the road to Selection Sunday, now less than two weeks away. Every game becomes that much more important as teams fight for seeding while some fight just to be invited to the Dance. I am Matthew Evans and I will be your host this evening.