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Jefferson scores 21 and Momcilovic breaks ISU record for 3s as No. 4 Cyclones beat Utah 75-59

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Joshua Jefferson scored 21 points, Milan Momcilovic made four 3-pointers to break the Iowa State record for 3s in a season, and the fourth-ranked Cyclones beat Utah 75-59 on Tuesday night.

Momcilovic entered the game with 100 3-pointers and surpassed Dedric Willoughby’s record of 102, set in 1997, when he hit back-to-back 3s in the second half. The 6-foot-8 junior forward has 104 after going 4 of 8 from deep against the Utes; he is shooting better than 50% from long range. He finished with 14 points.

Making its first visit to Salt Lake City, Iowa State (24-4, 11-4 Big 12) held Utah without a field goal — seven straight misses — over a stretch of 9:14 in the second half to turn a five-point lead into a 17-point advantage.

Jefferson recorded his 34th consecutive game in double figures. Jamarion Batemon added 13 points.

Terrence Brown scored 18 points, Don McHenry had 14 and Keanu Dawes added 10 points and 12 rebounds for the Utes (10-18, 2-13), who have lost nine of 10.

The Cyclones’ pressure defense sped up the Utes’ ballhandlers, delaying their offensive sets and forcing them into 18 turnovers.

Utah led 12-10 before the Cyclones got three steals to spark a 12-0 run. Iowa State built an 11-point first-half lead as the Cyclones scored 14 points off 11 Utah turnovers.

This was the only game in a stretch of five for Iowa State that wasn’t against a ranked opponent. The Cyclones are 3-1 so far, having beaten Kansas and Houston at home before losing at No. 19 BYU on Saturday.

Up next

Iowa State hosts No. 16 Texas Tech on Saturday.

Utah visits Arizona State on Saturday.

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