Iowa State Cyclones forward Conrad Hawley (23) looks for a shot against Green Bay during the second half at Hilton Coliseum on Monday, Nov. 6, 2023, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK
AMES — With about five minutes remaining, a familiar feel-good chant rang out in Hilton Coliseum.
Iowa State led Lindenwood, 90-40, and the student section began bellowing, “We want Conrad, we want Conrad, we want Conrad!”
They got him eventually. The Cyclones’ so-called chief energy officer, Conrad Hawley, checked in with 1:13 left and notched an offensive rebound and assist to help put an exclamation mark on ISU’s 102-47 dismantling of the Lions Thursday night before 13,327 fully satisfied fans.
“I like our team,” Cyclone head coach T.J. Otzelberger said. “They’re continuing to get better. We’ve got (some) young guys who maybe don’t have as much experience, but a lot of depth — a lot they can bring to the table — and we need to stay focused on whoever’s out there and having the best possession we can that next possession.”
Ames native Tamin Lipsey led ISU with a career-high 21 points on 8 for 11 shooting. The skilled sophomore point guard added seven assists and six rebounds and achieved those impressive numbers in just over 22 minutes.
“It definitely feels good to have a lot of confidence out there,” said Lipsey, who helped the Cyclones improve to 2-0. “That time I spent (working) in the offseason was a lot of work. It wasn’t easy and the days were hard, but it was all worth it because that’s how you’ve gotta improve and get better.”
ISU did that on both ends of the floor, snagging a staggering 19 steals while scoring 52 points in the paint. The Cyclones led by as many as 56 points and saw five different players contribute two steals or more.
“I think we all did a great job of having that personal pride every time we stepped on the floor,” said ISU senior forward Tre King, who grabbed a game-high seven rebounds and snared four steals. “I think it’s a credit to all of us that every time we stepped into the game, we all elevated the standard and tried to up it a level.”
Transfer guard Curtis Jones led the Cyclones with five steals off the bench — one shy of a single-game Hilton Coliseum record shared by several players, but most recently NBA All-Star Tyrese Haliburton in 2019. ISU notched its most steals in a single game in at least 27 years and scored 35 points off of turnovers.
“We’re all all-around players,” Lipsey said. “Obviously some people are known as shooters, as ball handlers, or whatever, but we really do it all and we saw that tonight with (Jones).”
Four Cyclones scored in double figures, including freshman forward Milan Momcilovic, who scored 17 points while shooting 7-for-12 from the floor. Transfer guard Keshon Gilbert and senior big man Robert Jones added 12 points apiece and Jones — who is a career 42.4 percent free throw shooter — went 4-for-4 from the line.
“He was all over the court,” Otzelberger said. “It’s good to see him have a scoring game like that.”
ISU will be back on the court Sunday at noon (ESPN+) when Idaho State comes to Hilton Coliseum.
“Got off to a great start,” Otzelberger said. “That’s something we’ve got to continue to do, is be focused and be locked in on both sides.”
