No. 22 Bearcats hold off Cyclones

The following is a press release written by Iowa State athletic communications. 

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Sean Kilpatrick scored 32 points to help No. 22 Cincinnati hold off a late Iowa State rally, as the Bearcats defeated Iowa State, 78-70 in the third round of the Global Sports Classic Friday afternoon in Las Vegas, Nev.

Cincinnati led by as many as 16 points in the second half, but Iowa State (4-1, 0-0 Big 12) fought back, cutting the lead to three points (68-65) with 3:25 left in the game after a Melvin Ejim putback.

Kilpatrick came up big at the free-throw line late in the game, making all 16 of his fouls shots after coming into the game connecting on just 5-of-13 at the line. UC finished the contest 23-of-25 at the charity stripe compared to ISU’s 12-of-21 performance.

"We came back because of our effort on the glass," Iowa State head coach Fred Hoiberg said. "We did a great job making the extra pass late in the game, but I thought we forced some shots early in the second half and we couldn’t dig ourselves out that hole."

The game was tied at 35-35 at the break. UC had a six-point lead early, but Tyrus McGee came off the bench to spark the Cyclones with 10 points to put ISU up 18-17 with 11:20 left in the first half.

UC went ahead 31-27 with under three minutes left, but Korie Lucious hit a pair of treys in the closing minutes of the opening stanza to help the Cyclones go into the break with a tie.

Kilpatrick had 18 points in the first half to pace the Bearcats and ISU had 12 first-half turnovers.

UC came out of the second half on fire, making 9-of-13 from the field to go up 58-42 with 12 minutes left in the game. Meanwhile, the Cyclones struggled, going 1-of-8 from the field to begin the second half.

McGee again sparked ISU’s second-half comeback, scoring eight points in a 14-4 ISU run to cut the lead to three points.

ISU had a couple of chances to cut the lead to under three points, but couldn’t find the big bucket late. In the end, turnovers (18) and poor free-throw shooting (57.1 pct.) doomed the Cyclones.

McGee ended the game with a career-high 22 points. He’s led ISU in scoring in four of five games this season. Ejim grabbed 10 boards to help ISU outrebound UC, 46-37.