Iowa State defeats E Illinois 78-53
E Illinois 53, Iowa State 78: A Dominant Statement Win for Home Crowd
The Hilton Coliseum was electric on Sunday as the Iowa State Cyclones hosted the Eastern Illinois Panthers in a non-conference matchup that quickly turned into a statement win for the home team.
From the opening tip, it was clear that Iowa State was looking to make a statement. The Cyclones dominated the paint, outscoring Eastern Illinois 42-22 and building a 44-28 halftime lead. While Eastern Illinois struggled with their outside shooting, going just 6-19 from three-point range, Iowa State's offense was clicking on all cylinders.
Milan Momcilovic led the way for the Cyclones, scoring 18 points on 2-6 three-point attempts and 54.5% field goal efficiency. Joshua Jefferson chipped in with nine rebounds and 11 points, while Tamin Lipsey dished out seven assists to fuel the Iowa State attack.
Eastern Illinois fought hard to stay within range, but ultimately couldn't contain the Cyclones' balanced offense. Zion Fruster led the Panthers with 11 points, but it was a team effort that fell short. Kooper Jacobi had eight rebounds and 11 points for E Illinois, while Meechie White contributed nine points and two assists.
The final margin of 25 points was indicative of Iowa State's dominance, with the largest lead coming at 35 points early in the second half. The Cyclones' four-point advantage on the glass also told a story of their team's efficiency on both ends of the floor.
Iowa State's advanced statistics were impressive, with an effective field goal percentage of 50.0%, free throw rate of 46.6%, and turnover ratio of 17.1%. The Cyclones' defense was stingy, holding Eastern Illinois to just 45.5% true shooting.
The win marked a significant statement for Iowa State, which is looking to build momentum as it heads into the second half of its non-conference schedule. For Eastern Illinois, it's a tough pill to swallow in a game that could have potentially been a statement win for the visitors.
The Cyclones' next test will come on the road against [insert opponent here], but for now, Iowa State can bask in the glory of their dominant performance at Hilton Coliseum.