Wildcats drop 75-69 heartbreaker at Iowa State

AMES, Iowa (AP) Kansas State got 23 points from Jeremiah Massey and led for the majority of the game before suffering yet another close Big 12 road game.

Jake Sullivan scored 19 of his 24 points in the second half and walk-on John Neal hit two huge 3-pointers, lifting Iowa State to a 75-69 victory over Kansas State on Wednesday night.

Jackson Vroman added 16 points for Iowa State (15-9, 6-7 Big 12), which came from seven down in the second half to avenge a 31-point loss at Kansas State two weeks ago.

Kansas State (12-12, 4-9) frustrated the Cyclones for much of the game with its patient offense and sticky defense. But Sullivan got untracked in the second half, making six of eight shots with three 3-pointers, and Iowa State outplayed the Wildcats down the stretch.

Tim Ellis was the only other Wildcat to hit double figures on the night with 10 points.

Iowa State took its first lead since it was 2-0 when Sullivan sank two free throws to make it 57-55 with 6:39 remaining. A fadeaway jumper by Sullivan made it 65-61 and then, after Ellis missed a wide open 3 from the right corner, Neal made the Wildcats pay.

His 3 from the left wing brought a roar from the crowd and gave Iowa State a 68-61 lead with 3:25 left. Kansas State drew to 68-64 on Marques Hayden's turnaround shot, but Neal came through again, hitting a 3 from the left corner for a 71-64 lead.

After Cartier Martin missed a jump shot, Kansas State had to foul and Iowa State made four free throws to finish it off, two each by Sullivan and Curtis Stinson.

Neal finished with nine points, three steals and two assists. Jared Homan scored 13 for Iowa State, while Stinson had 10 assists, six rebounds and two steals to go with seven points.

Kansas State kept it a half-court game for the most part and prevented Iowa State from running, which is the Cyclones' strength. The Wildcats led 32-28 at halftime and seemed to be in control when Massey got inside for a layup to make it 44-37 with 13:49 left.

They managed to stop a couple of Iowa State runs but never got the lead back after two straight baskets by Vroman, the second a fastbreak dunk on a pass from Stinson that made it 61-57.

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Team Stats

Jeremiah Massey

Tim Ellis

Cartier Martin

Frank Richards

Kansas State University Athletics