NCAA News Wire
Iowa State 89, TCU 84
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
AMES, Iowa — Iowa State forward Melvin Ejim put on quite a show Saturday.
Ejim scored a career-high 48 points and grabbed 18 rebounds as the 16th-ranked Cyclones defeated TCU 84-69 in a Big 12 game.
Ejim was ruthlessly efficient on offense, going 20 of 24 from the field. His 20 field goals were a Big 12 record. He also was 6 of 6 from the foul line and capped off his day with series of monster dunks.
Ejim was the first Cyclone to score 40 points since Craig Brackins had 42 against Kansas in 2008.
It was Ejim’s eighth double-double of the season and third straight game with at least 20 points and 10 rebounds. Ejim entered the game leading the Big 12 in scoring at 18.3 points and was third with 8.1 rebounds.
Ejim was a one-man gang for most of the afternoon. Only one other Cyclone scored in double figures.
Iowa State (18-5, 6-4 Big 12) was never able to put away TCU (9-13, 0-10) with the Horned Frogs cutting the lead to single digits multiple times in the second half.
TCU could not slow down Ejim. He scored 20 straight Iowa State points, including two alley-oops and another dunk, late in the second half.
The Horned Frogs struggled from the field. They shot 37.5 percent for the game and 29.6 percent in the first half. Guard Kyan Anderson led the Horned Frogs with 27 points and forward Amric Fields added 18.
The Cyclones have won three straight, including a 98-97 triple-overtime victory over No. 19 Oklahoma State on Monday. ISU began the season with a program best 14-0 start before dropping four of five early in Big 12 play.
Iowa State jumped out to an 11-2 lead and held TCU to one field goal for the first eight minutes while taking a 32-22 lead into intermission.
Forward Georges Niang finished with 11 points for the Cyclones.
Iowa State will travel to West Virginia on Monday. TCU will face Baylor on Wednesday.
NOTES: TCU has not won a game since Dec. 29, beating Texas Southern 77-64. The Horned Frogs have lost their last 10 games. … Iowa State F Melvin Ejim has scored in double figures in 24 straight games. … Iowa State is 43-4 at home in the last three seasons.
