Cyclones host Panthers in CBE Hall of Fame Classic

Nov 17, 2014 - 3:49 PM Ames, IA (SportsNetwork.com) - The Iowa State Cyclones will close out a season-opening two-game homestand at Hilton Coliseum on Monday night when they take on the Georgia State Panthers as part of the CBE Hall of Fame Classic.

Georgia State, which won the Sun Belt Conference regular season title last season (25-9, 17-1), got its season started off right on Friday with an easy 115-55 victory over Tennessee Temple. The Panthers have only faced off against a ranked team nine times in the last 15 years but have performed admirably with three wins.

Iowa State wasn't quiet as dominant as it hoped to be at home against Oakland in its opener, but it was still able to hold on for a 93-82 win. The Cyclones have now won 17 straight season openers and are riding a 21-game home winning streak over non-conference foes.

This marks the first-ever meeting on the hardwood between Georgia State and Iowa State.

The Panthers did what was expected of them against a lower-competition squad, as they outshot Tennessee Temple from the field, 62.5 percent to 36.4 percent, in the 60-point blowout. The 115 points were the fourth-most in school history and the most since putting up 109 against UC Irvine in 1988. In just 25 minutes of action, Ryan Harrow logged 25 points and six assists. R.J. Hunter was also great in the backcourt with 24 points, eight assists and two steals. Curtis Washington and Kevin Ware tallied 13 and 12 points, respectively, while T.J. Shipes had 10 points and eight rebounds off the bench.

After a tight first half, Iowa State separated itself from Oakland in the second stanza, opening up a lead as large as 20 before settling on an 11-point victory. Although the Cyclones' defensive effort wasn't great - they allowed Oakland to knock down 51.8 percent of its shots - they made up for it with a hot shooting night of their own, going 30-of-58 from the field (.517) and 26- of-37 at the foul line (.703). All five starters scored in double figures in the triumph, led by a career-high 30 points from Georges Niang, who also tallied nine rebounds and five assists. Bryce Dejean-Jones notched a double- double with 20 points and 11 rebounds, while Dustin Hogue (15 points), Monte Morris (14 points) and Naz Long (10 points) rounded out the balanced scoring attack.