Iowa State Iowa State/Texas Tech Texas Tech Men's College Basketball recap on ESPN

M College BB


		Scores/Schedules Rankings Standings Statistics Transactions Injuries Weekly lineup Teams Recruiting

Wednesday, Mar. 1 8:00pm ET
Fizer's 35 powers Iowa State over Texas Tech

RECAP | BOX SCORE

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) -- Iowa State clinched at least a share of its first conference title in 55 years with an 87-79 victory over Texas Tech on Wednesday night.

The Cyclones (No. 14 ESPN/USA Today, No. 10 AP), who went 15-15 last season, can finish no worse than tied for first in the Big 12, and they can win it outright with a win over Baylor on Saturday.

"We don't want to share it," Cyclones guard Stevie Johnson said of the school's first title since winning the Big Six in 1945.

"It's really one of the stories of the decade," Iowa State coach Larry Eustachy said. "I don't know that people understand all that this group has done.

"It's quite a feat for a team that was struggling all of last season.

Marcus Fizer had 35 points for the Cyclones (25-4, 13-2), who hold a one-game lead over Texas and Oklahoma State in the Big 12.

Iowa State trailed 64-61 when it went on an 11-0 run.

Michael Nurse hit a 3-pointer with 6:35 to play to tie the game 64-64 and Iowa State took the lead for good on an inside basket by Steve Johnson with 6:06 left. Fizer's tip-in with 4:50 capped the run and gave the Cyclones their biggest lead, 72-64.

James Ware's 3-pointer with 2:16 left brought the Red Raiders (12-14, 3-12) within 76-73, but Fizer and Johnson both scored to make it 80-73.

Iowa State made seven free throws over the final 30 seconds to seal the win and a part of the Big 12 title.

"It feels really good," Fizer said. "I haven't really sat down and thought about it and celebrated it too much because it's not over. It's not outright _ not yet."

Johnson finished with 19 points, while Nurse had 13 and Jamaal Tinsley 10 for the Cyclones.

Rayford Young led Tech with 36 points on 13-for-21 shooting, including 3-for-6 from 3-point range, and had seven assists.

"I wanted to put the game on my shoulder like I did against Kansas," Young said. "But I went cold in the second half and Fizer put it to us."

ALSO SEE
Mens College Basketball Scoreboard

Iowa State Clubhouse

Texas Tech Clubhouse