AMES, Iowa (AP) — Joshua Jefferson had 17 points, 10 rebounds and a career-high 12 assists for his second triple-double of the season as ninth-ranked Iowa State beat UCF 87-57 on Tuesday night.
Milan Momchilovic scored 20 points and the Cyclones (17-2, 4-2 Big 12), coming off their first loss of the season, bounced back at home to lead 44-26 at halftime and pulled away in the second half.
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Jefferson is the first player in school history to record multiple triple-doubles in a season and the second player this season to reach Division I or higher. Jefferson’s other triple-double came in an 80-59 win over West Virginia on Jan. 2.
Killian Toure and Jamarion Bartmon each scored 12 points, and Blake Buchanan added 11 points for the Cyclones.
Iowa State forced 19 turnovers from the Cavaliers (14-4, 3-3).
Riley Kugel and Jordan Burks each scored 15 points for UCF.
The Cyclones are coming off their first losses of the season — an 84-63 loss to Kansas last Tuesday and a 79-70 loss to Cincinnati on Saturday. They were plagued by slow starts in both losses, trailing by double digits in the first half and have trailed in the first half of each of their last five games.
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But Iowa State started the game strong, leading 25-12 in the first 9 minutes. The Cyclones led 31-19 before UCF went on a 7-0 run. Iowa State then held the Cavaliers scoreless for the final 5 minutes and 45 seconds of the first half. UCF missed six field goals and committed four turnovers in the period.
UCF guard JaMychal Stillwell is out, listed as a game-time decision on the Big 12’s availability report. Stillwell averaged 12.3 points and 7.9 rebounds per game and had five double-doubles this season.
Next
UCF: At Colorado State on Saturday
Iowa State: vs. Oklahoma State on Saturday
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