Posted at 10:52 p.m., Friday, December 23, 2005
Iowa State captures Rainbow Classic
Associated Press
Curtis Stinson scored 22 points to lead six Cyclones in double figures as Iowa State beat Colorado State 87-80 to capture the Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic title tonight at the Stan Sheriff Center.Tournament MVP Will Blalock added 11 points and eight assists for Iowa State (9-3).
Rahshon Clark and Jiri Hubalek each scored 15 points, Tasheed Carr added 12 and Ross Marsden 10 for the Cyclones.
Michael Harrison led Colorado State (9-2) with 25 points on 8-of-9 shooting from the field, Stephan Gilling added 14 and Andrew Patterson 12.
The Rams' leading scorer Jason Smith, averaging 17.2 points on the season, had 10 points, all in the second half.
Iowa State went on a 22-4 run to take a 25-9 lead eight minutes into the game, and Colorado State would get no closer than eight the rest of the first.
After leading 43-31 at halftime, Iowa State built its lead to as much as 17 early in the second half.
Colorado State closed to 56-48 on back-to-back baskets inside by Harrison with 11 minutes to go. But Ram Corey Lewis was hit with a technical foul after being called for a personal foul on the following possession, and the Cyclones made all four free throws to go up 60-48.
Colorado State hit five 3-pointers in the final three minutes of the game but could not get closer than six down the stretch.
The 87 points scored by Iowa State was the most allowed this season by Colorado State. The Cyclones pressure defense had seven steals in the first 10 minutes, and finished with 14 steals in the game.
