Iowa State at West Virginia

The last time Iowa State played at West Virginia, the Cyclones posted the biggest comeback in school history, clawing from 24 points down to win 52-44.

The Cyclones (3-8, 2-6 Big 12) can cap a year with a win for the second time in three seasons after beating the Mountaineers in triple overtime on the road in 2013.

In its first five games, Iowa State has wins over teams from the Pac-12 (Colorado), ACC (Virginia Tech) and Big Ten (Illinois).

Demonte Flannigan scored 11 of his 20 points in the first half, and Rob Edwards added 14 points for Cleveland State (2-4), which was 3 of 12 from three-point range.

Iowa State, which bid farewell to coach Paul Rhoads on Saturday, has apparently wasted no time finding a replacement. Iowa State began the day as the third-worst run-stopping team in the conference yielding more than 180 yards on the ground per game. The score was set up by a KJ Dillon interception that ended a promising opening drive from Iowa State at the West Virginia 15. “I think it’s no secret that we function much better I push the tempo”, Holgorsen said.

Gibson finished with six catches for 148 yards. “It’s what we hang our hat on”, running backs coach Ja’Juan Seider said after the game. He also caught a 52-yarder and returned a kickoff 53 yards, both leading to field goals. But through the first five games of the season, the transfer from Eastern Illinois had been Illinois’ most consistent perimeter defender, at one point starting five straight games primarily because of his efforts at that end of the floor.

“We went from slower situations to make sure our blocking targets were right to not really worrying about it to push the tempo a little bit”.

“Ah, yeah, they’re two good players; they’re really good”, Niang said.

It hasn’t been a pretty start to the season for IL, but after sticking with the No. 4 team in the country for the majority of Saturday night’s game, the Illini finally have something to hang their hat on.

That seemed to sap the will out of Iowa State. West Virginia took advantage of the gift with Rushel Shell scoring from 9 yards out for a 30-6 lead.

The Iowa State Cyclones average 85.7 points per game, ranking 35th in the nation.