Iowa State basketball crushes Iowa in Cy-Hawk matchup

Iowa State dominates Iowa in the Cy-Hawk game with a 90-65 win, continuing a tradition of blowouts in the rivalry.

The Cy-Hawk game between Iowa State and Iowa is a rivalry that relies heavily on tradition for its appeal and intensity. In the recent matchup, Iowa State continued the tradition of blowouts by dominating Iowa with a 90-65 victory at Hilton Coliseum. This win marked Iowa State's best of the year, while Iowa struggled to keep up, falling to 1-4 against high-major opponents this season.

The game continued the trend of lopsided Cy-Hawk games, with the last seven matchups decided by double-digits and an average scoring margin of 17. In the past few years, the game has seen record-setting routes with both teams achieving their largest-ever wins. In this latest game, Iowa State forwards Robert Jones and Tre King led the charge, scoring 18 and 17 points, respectively, and dominating the paint.

Iowa State's victory over Iowa sends them into a favorable portion of their schedule on a high note. With four home games against low-major competition on the horizon, the Cyclones are poised for continued success. The first of these opponents, Prairie View A&M, will visit Hilton Coliseum on Sunday.

The game itself was a first-half smackdown, with Iowa State taking an early lead and never looking back. The Cyclones' dominance inside, outscoring Iowa 46-18 in the paint, was a key factor in their victory. King and Jones capitalized on Iowa's interior defense, using old-school post-ups and crafty passing to exploit their opponent's weaknesses.

While the sustainability of Iowa State's inside scoring remains to be seen, their performance against Iowa showcased their ability to identify and exploit weaknesses to their advantage. The Cyclones' strategic execution and physical presence proved to be a formidable challenge for Iowa's defense, ultimately leading to their decisive victory.