Iowa State ends 4-game skid with 73-58 win at No. 7 Baylor

© Provided by The Associated Press Iowa State forward Tre King (0) dunks against Baylor guard Keyonte George (1) forward Caleb Lohner (33) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, March 4, 2023, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Jerry Larson)

WACO, Texas (AP) — Jaren Holmes had 16 points and Iowa State ended a four-game losing streak Saturday with a 73-58 win over seventh-ranked Baylor in what likely was the Bears’ final Big 12 home game in the 35-year-old Ferrell Center.

The Cyclones (18-12, 9-9 Big 12) played their first game since the dismissal of veteran guard Caleb Grill from the team earlier this week, and built as much as a 14-point lead before halftime. Tre King finished with 13 points and Gabe Kalscheur had 12.

When Baylor (22-9, 11-7) had a 10-0 run early in the second half to cut its deficit to 36-32 with 15:29 left, the Cyclones responded with a spurt of 11 points in a row of their own. Kalscheur’s 3-pointer capped the run that pretty much sealed the game.

Adam Flagler had 20 points with five 3-pointers for the Bears, while LJ Cryer added 13 points. Standout freshman Keyonte George finished with seven points on 3-of-10 shooting after missing Monday’s victory at Oklahoma State because of a right ankle sprain. George got hurt early in a home game against Texas last weekend.

© Provided by The Associated Press Iowa State guard Gabe Kalscheur (22) attempts a shot over Baylor guard Keyonte George (1) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, March 4, 2023, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Jerry Larson)

Grill had started 22 of his 25 games for the Cyclones, and was their third-leading scorer (9.5 points a game) when coach T.J. Otzelberger said the guard had failed to meet program expectations. Grill said later on social media that he has been battling mental illness.

In the Big 12 opener on New Year’s Eve, Iowa State beat then-12th-ranked Baylor 77-62, part of an 0-3 start in conference play for the Bears, who had won 12 of 15 since.

Baylor’s only leads in the regular-season finale were 3-0 and 5-4.

Even with six turnovers in the game’s first eight minutes, Iowa State went into the second media timeout with a 9-7 lead. Baylor had missed nine of its first 12 shots, and five of its points came off the Cyclones’ miscues.

Baylor is moving next season into the Foster Pavilion, which is still under construction just down the street on the edge of campus. The plan is to play their non-conference games in the Ferrell Center and debut in the new arena at the start of Big 12 play.

© Provided by The Associated Press Baylor guard Keyonte George (1) and Iowa State forward Tre King (0) reach for a loose ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, March 4, 2023, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Jerry Larson)

BIG PICTURE

Iowa State: The Cyclones had lost nine in a row in the Ferrell Center.

Baylor: The Bears matched their season low with 58 points, while shooting only 35.8% (19 of 53) from the field. … Six Baylor seniors were recognized before the game, but big man Flo Thamba is the only of that group who doesn’t have any eligibility remaining after this season. Flagler, Dale Bonner and Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua were among the others who could return. … While George was back, the Bears played without freshman guard Langston Love, who was poked in the eye before halftime against Oklahoma State on Monday.

UP NEXT

The Big 12 Tournament in Kansas City. Neither team will have to play in the opening round, and will start in the quarterfinals Thursday.

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