AMES (AP) — George Niang scored 15 points and Iowa State pounded Nebraska-Omaha 93-65 Sunday night.
Niang, a freshman, scored 11 of his points in the first half as the Cyclones (7-3) led 52-28 at the break. Iowa State was coming back after a loss Friday night to Iowa.
Iowa State led 18-2 before Nebraska-Omaha (2-9) made six shots in a row to cut the lead to four points. But they only made four shots the rest of the half in 22 attempts.
Will Clyburn, who did not score in the Iowa game, finished with 11 points against the Mavericks. Anthony Booker and Tyrus McGee also had 11 points for the Cyclones, while Percy Gibson and Chris Babb scored 10 apiece. Melvin Ejim grabbed 13 rebounds for Iowa State.
John Karhoff scored 13 points to lead Nebraska-Omaha, in its second year in Division I. These teams last met in 1991, when Iowa State won 114-57. In that game, the Cyclones set a school record with 76 points in the second half.
Niang’s performance was one of the few highlights for coach Fred Hoiberg in the Cyclones’ 80-71 loss to Iowa. He started in place of Booker, in part because of Booker’s tendency to get in early foul trouble, Hoiberg said.
Iowa State committed 19 turnovers against Iowa but had just six on Sunday.
The Cyclones out-rebounded Omaha, 45-24, and forced 14 turnovers. The Mavericks managed just one offensive rebound.