Watson scores 15 points, has 9 rebounds, No. 8 Iowa State beats Oklahoma, 58-45
AP
Feb 28, 2024
AMES, Iowa (AP) Demarion Watson hit all seven of his field goal attempts for a career-best 15 points and also had nine rebounds to lead No. 8 Iowa State Cyclones to a 58-45 win over Oklahoma Sooners on Wednesday night.
Watson, who came off the bench, received an ovation from the crowd in the closing moments and an embrace from coach T.J. Otzelberger.
“I told him how proud of him I was and how impactful he was on us winning the game,” Otzelberger said. “And I wanted him to look around and just see 14,000 people who appreciated the effort he gave, the energy he had and that he should feel great about it.”
Curtis Jones added 11 points as the Cyclones (22-6, 11-4 Big 12) won their 17th straight home game and for the sixth time in their last seven games overall, despite shooting just 33%.
“Obviously, it was not pretty at all,” Jones said. “It was ugly, but we were able to string together stops, which is something we've been continuing to do as conference play goes on.”
Rivaldo Soares had nine points to lead the Sooners (19-9, 7-8), who have lost three of their last four.
Oklahoma also shot 33% and finished with just 7 second-chance points.
“I thought Watson was a difference maker,” Sooners coach Porter Moser said. “I thought he gave them a tremendous lift.”
The Cyclones seized control of a sloppy contest with a 15-4 run midway through the second half.
Jones hit a 3-pointer from the left wing that put Iowa State ahead 40-28 with 13:02 left to play. Back-to-back baskets by Watson extended the margin to 46-33.
“We didn't have a lot of energy in the first half,” said Watson. “So, I thought it was my job to bring energy, do what I do best.”
Watson put the game out of reach with a 3-pointer that made it 52-39 with 4:01 remaining.
“I was in a good rhythm,” he said. “So, when the opportunity came, just knock it down.”
Oklahoma missed 14 of its first 15 3-point attempts and finished 3 of 17 from long range.
“You've got to make some threes to beat Iowa State,” Moser said. “Because they're so good at protecting the rim.”
Iowa State wasn't much better, shooting 4 of 16 from 3-point range.
Neither team could make shots early, starting out a combined 6 of 32.
Milos Uzan's layup gave Oklahoma a 20-16 lead. Iowa State hit just four of its first 29 shots but finished the first half with a flurry as a floater by Jones and a jumper by Tamin Lipsey sparked a 9-0 run for a 25-20 halftime lead.
The Cyclones finished with a 32-13 edge in bench scoring.
“This time of the year, depth is really important,” Otzelberger said. “And having guys who can come in and have that type of impact is huge.”
BIG PICTURE
The game was the last scheduled meeting between Iowa State and Oklahoma, as the Sooners are headed for the Southeastern Conference next season. Oklahoma has a 123-94 lead in the overall series. In 117 seasons of basketball, the Cyclones have played Oklahoma in 102 of them.
UP NEXT
Oklahoma: Hosts No. 1 Houston on Saturday.
Iowa State: Is at Central Florida on Saturday.
---
Get poll alerts and updates on AP Top 25 basketball throughout the season. Sign up here.
---
AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball
Copyright 2025 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
1st Half
OKLA
Sooners
20
IAST
Cyclones
25
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
Sam Godwin vs. Milan Momcilovic (Cyclones gains possession)
19:37
Cyclones turnover (shot clock violation)
19:24
Tamin Lipsey personal foul
19:08
Sam Godwin misses two point jump shot
19:06
Tamin Lipsey defensive rebound
18:52
Milan Momcilovic turnover (lost ball) (Milos Uzan steals)
18:45
Milos Uzan misses two point layup
18:43
Milan Momcilovic defensive rebound
18:34
Keshon Gilbert misses three point jump shot
18:32
Rivaldo Soares defensive rebound
18:29
Jump ball. (Sooners gains possession)
18:12
Robert Jones shooting foul (Rivaldo Soares draws the foul)
18:12
+1
Rivaldo Soares makes regular free throw 1 of 2
1-0
18:12
+1
Rivaldo Soares makes regular free throw 2 of 2
2-0
18:00
Sam Godwin shooting foul (Keshon Gilbert draws the foul)
18:00
+1
Keshon Gilbert makes regular free throw 1 of 2
2-1
18:00
+1
Keshon Gilbert makes regular free throw 2 of 2
2-2
17:43
Rivaldo Soares misses two point layup
17:41
Jalon Moore offensive rebound
17:40
Tre King personal foul
17:36
Luke Northweather turnover (lost ball) (Keshon Gilbert steals)
17:20
Tamin Lipsey misses three point jump shot
17:18
Jalon Moore defensive rebound
17:06
Javian McCollum misses three point jump shot
17:04
Robert Jones defensive rebound
16:52
+3
Milan Momcilovic makes three point jump shot (Tre King assists)
2-5
16:37
+2
Jalon Moore makes two point layup (Luke Northweather assists)
4-5
16:18
Keshon Gilbert misses two point jump shot
16:16
Milos Uzan defensive rebound
16:06
Jalon Moore misses three point jump shot
16:04
Keshon Gilbert defensive rebound
15:58
Keshon Gilbert misses two point jump shot
15:56
Rivaldo Soares defensive rebound
15:45
Javian McCollum misses two point jump shot
15:43
Robert Jones defensive rebound
15:25
Robert Jones offensive foul
15:25
Robert Jones turnover (offensive foul)
15:25
TV timeout
15:01
Otega Oweh misses two point layup
14:59
Hason Ward defensive rebound
14:43
+2
Keshon Gilbert makes two point layup (Hason Ward assists)
4-7
14:22
Otega Oweh misses three point jump shot
14:20
Milan Momcilovic defensive rebound
14:10
Hason Ward misses two point layup
14:09
Hason Ward offensive rebound
14:09
Luke Northweather shooting foul (Hason Ward draws the foul)
14:09
+1
Hason Ward makes regular free throw 1 of 2
4-8
14:09
+1
Hason Ward makes regular free throw 2 of 2
4-9
13:58
Demarion Watson shooting foul (Otega Oweh draws the foul)
13:58
+1
Otega Oweh makes regular free throw 1 of 2
5-9
13:58
+1
Otega Oweh makes regular free throw 2 of 2
6-9
13:45
Curtis Jones misses three point jump shot
13:43
Sam Godwin defensive rebound
13:32
Milos Uzan misses two point jump shot
13:30
Sam Godwin offensive rebound
13:25
+2
Sam Godwin makes two point layup
8-9
13:08
Milan Momcilovic misses two point jump shot
13:06
Sam Godwin defensive rebound
12:50
Demarion Watson shooting foul (Sam Godwin draws the foul)