The second-seeded Cyclones led by double-digits for the final 19:47 of the game after senior forward Robert Jones sank a short jumper to start the second half and the Bears (23-10) trailed by as many as 22 points while mounting an array of futile charges ISU rebuffed repeatedly down the stretch.
In the moment, Im just out there playing, said Ward, whose big night came when Robert Jones battled constant foul trouble. (King) saw me on the back cut. It was a good pass and I was just out there playing (and) having fun.
