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MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Central Connecticut State's miracle comeback
ended about six minutes too early.
All-American Marcus Fizer had 27 points and 11 rebounds and
Jamaal Tinsley added 26 points as second-seeded Iowa State blew a
big early lead before making a late run to beat the 15th-seeded Blue Devils 88-78 on Thursday in the Midwest Regional.
|  | | John Tice led the Blue Devils with 21 points. |
The Northeast Conference champions from New Britain, Conn., were
making their first NCAA tournament appearance, and it nearly turned
into one of the most shocking upsets in the tourney's history. Only
three No. 2 seeds have ever lost a first-round game.
"If I had to go back and do it again, I'd pray we wouldn't draw
that team," said Fizer, who was playing in his first tournament
game. "They made a lot of big plays, and before we knew it, the
game was tied.
"We were able to pull it out at the end, but were we satisfied
with the way we played? Not at all. I'm disappointed in us."
Central Connecticut State (25-6) erased a 19-point first-half
deficit with pinpoint shooting and easy drives through the porous
Iowa State defense. As the Cyclones' lead evaporated, Fizer shouted
angrily at his teammates and leveled a chair with a kick during a
timeout.
"I was angry with the way we'd been playing defensively,"
Fizer said. "We didn't stop anybody for a long time."
Rick Mickens, the Northeast Conference player of the year,
scored 17 of his 19 points in the second half. He hit a layup with
6:15 left that tied it at 69 and sent the Blue Devils' bench and
small fan contingent into delirium.
But the shock awoke Iowa State (30-5), which immediately made a
12-0 run highlighted by two big jumpers from Michael Nurse, who had
16 points. The shaken Cyclones, who shot 60 percent from the floor
but made 17 turnovers, then hit their free throws late and advanced
to the second round to face Auburn.
Afterward, the Blue Devils weren't happy about playing a close
game against one of the nation's top teams. Instead, they were
angry that an opportunity for the biggest win in school history had
slipped through their fingers.
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Forget about Iowa State's No. 2 seed -- this team has little NCAA Tournament experience and that's why the Cyclones were in tight first-round
games Thursday.
Remember, the Cyclones haven't been in the tournament since 1997, the year before Marcus Fizer
arrived. Point guard Jamaal Tinsley was in junior college last year and
coach Larry Eustachy's last time in the tournament was with Utah State two
years ago in a first-round loss to Maryland.
This is new ground for Iowa State and the Cyclones needed a game
before they could feel secure.
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"We didn't want to talk about David and Goliath or the
Cinderella slipper or shocking the world," Central Connecticut
State coach Howie Dickenman said. "We came here to win the
basketball game."
Nurse hit big shots early for the Cyclones and again late, when
the Blue Devils denied Fizer the ball. John Tice scored 21 points
to lead Central Connecticut State, but he didn't have a basket in
the game's final seven minutes.
Iowa State opened the game with a 26-8 run and led 31-15 by the
time Fizer got his second basket of the game. Fizer then scored
seven of the Cyclones' next eight baskets as they opened a
comfortable lead.
Central Connecticut State made a 12-2 run to close the first
half, highlighted by a desperation 3-pointer from Tomas Brookins at
the buzzer. The Blue Devils stayed with the Cyclones throughout the
second half, and Mickens keyed an 11-2 run that ended with his
layup to tie the game.
In the postgame press conference, Dickenman spoke poignantly
about Mickens and Victor Payne, his departing seniors. Payne
covered his face with a towel to hide his tears. "They took a chance on us, and I'm grateful," Dickenman said.
Thousands of fans wearing Iowa State red packed the Metrodome,
with one girl holding a sign reading "This is Cyclone Country."
The school's campus in Ames is less than 300 miles from
Minneapolis.
"I'm glad we won, or there might have been a rope hanging over
that tunnel as I was walking in," coach Larry Eustachy said.
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ALSO SEE
Mens College Basketball Scoreboard
Central Connecticut State Clubhouse
Iowa State Clubhouse
Chat: NCAA Tourney
Auburn survives Creighton's last-minute threes
Morris, Maryland hit Iona early and often
Kapono, Watson power Bruins past Ball State
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Post-game news conference from Iowa State's win over Central Connecticut.
RealVideo: | 28.8
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