HONOLULU - Iowa State is flying home from its holiday trip to Hawaii with three more victories and its best start in school history.
The No. 14 Cyclones beat Boise State 70-66 on Wednesday night to win the Diamond Head Classic, recovering from a season-low 27 points in the first half.
The 70 total points also were a season low, but the result was still the only one they’ve known so far - the latest of 11 victories.
“We’ve only played eight games coming into this tournament, so it was very important to get these and take care of business and give us some momentum heading into conference,” Iowa State coach Fred Hoiberg said.
DeAndre Kane scored 23 points, winning tournament MVP honors for his three-game performance. Iowa State beat George Mason and Akron to get to the final.
Kane hit a three-pointer with less than 2 minutes left to help seal the victory for the Cyclones. Boise State’s Derrick Marks had a chance to tie with less than 30 seconds left, but missed a 15-foot jumper.
Melvin Ejim had 15 points and 10 rebounds, and Georges Niang had 16 points.
“The guys do a great job of sharing the ball and being unselfish and understanding who’s got the best mismatch out there on the floor,” Hoiberg said. “De-Andre did a great job getting to spots and making the right play. Georges hit some huge shots for us and Melvin did what he always does for us by getting us extra possessions.”
Kane said he, Ejim and Niang are “like a brotherhood.”
“We hang together every day and all day and when one guy gets it rolling we know that we’re going to that guy no matter what,” he said.
Iowa State finished with 14 offensive rebounds, outscoring Boise State 16-5 on second-chance points.
Iowa State pushed beyond its best-ever start after tying it Monday. The Cyclones started with 10 consecutive victories in the 1996-1997 season en route to a final 16 appearance in the NCAA tournament.
Derrick Marks had 23 points for Boise State (10-3).
Iowa State came back after making less than a third of its shots in the first half, improving to 50 percent in the second half, including 6 of 13 three-pointers(46.2 percent).
“In the first half we were a little stagnant on offense, guys were shooting shots, not running back and we weren’t as hungry as we were in the first half as we were in the second half,” Kane said. “(Boise State) came out really aggressive and they got up big on us.”
Kane put Iowa State within a point about 6 minutes into the second half. Kane took two dribbles with his right hand near the top of the key, then hit a jumper and was fouled. He missed a free throw to tie, but Ejim pulled down the rebound and hit a layup to give the Cyclones their first lead of the game.
Marks tied it at 60-60 with a jumper and a three-pointer on consecutive possessions, but Iowa State responded with two free throws and a straightaway three-pointer by Kane with less than 2 minutes left.
SOUTH CAROLINA 69, AKRON 59
HONOLULU - Freshman Duane Notice scored a season-high 15 points as South Carolina defeated Akron in the third-place game of the Diamond Head Classic.
Sindarius Thornwell, Brenton Williams scored 12 points apiece and Michael Carrera, Tyrone Johnson each added 10 points off the bench for South Carolina (4-6).
Demetrius Treadwell scored 12 points and Quincy Diggs had 10 for Akron (6-4). The Zips held a 31-25 lead at the break, but were outscored 12-5 in the first 5 minutes after halftime.
HAWAII 79, OREGON STATE 73
HONOLULU - Isaac Fotu scored 17 points as Hawaii beat Oregon State in the fifth-place game of the Diamond Head Classic.
Garrett Nevels had 16, Christian Standhardinger 15 and Brandon Spearman added 14 for the Rainbow Warriors (9-3). Spearman also grabbed 10 rebounds and Keith Shamburger chipped in with nine points, 10 assists and six rebounds.
Roberto Nelson scored 22, Devon Collier added 13, 10 rebounds and Challe Barton made three of his team’s six three-pointers to finish with 13 points for the Beavers (7-4).
GEORGE MASON 65, SAINT MARY’S 63
HONOLULU - Patrick Holloway and Bryon Allen scored 15 points each as George Mason rallied to beat Saint Mary’s in the seventh-place game of the Diamond Head Classic.
Johnny Williams added 14 points for the Patriots (6-6), who trailed the entire game until Allen’s jumper with 2:42 remaining.
James Walker III and Stephen Holt scored 14 points apiece for the Gaels (9-3) and Brad Waldow scored 10 points.
Wednesday’s scores MEN’S TOURNAMENT Diamond Head Classic
CHAMPIONSHIP Iowa St. 70, Boise St. 66 THIRD PLACE South Carolina 69, Akron 59 FIFTH PLACE Hawaii 79, Oregon St. 73 SEVENTH PLACE George Mason 65, Saint Mary’s (Cal) 63
Sports, Pages 26 on 12/26/2013