FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) Iowa State has already experienced quite a bit of March madness, and the Cyclones haven't even started the postseason yet.
Georges Niang and Monte Morris each had 19 points and No. 17 Iowa State ended the regular season with another comeback win, beating TCU 89-76 on Saturday night to clinch the No. 2 seed in the Big 12 tournament.
''We just played how we're capable of playing now in two second halves in a row,'' Cyclones coach Fred Hoiberg said. ''It can't stay like that. You've got to come out and get off to a great start and continue to play that way for 40 minutes. If we do that, we're going to be a pretty good team the rest of the way.''
The 10-point deficit the Cyclones (22-8, 12-6 Big 12) had before halftime was only half of what they faced when they had a record-setting comeback their previous game.
Led by Niang's 17 points, Iowa State had four players score in double figures just in the second half in a 63-point outburst against TCU (17-14, 4-14). A 16-5 run in first 4 1/2 minutes after halftime put the Cyclones ahead to stay.
''We just really got out,'' Hoiberg said. ''We started running.''
Morris had 12 points in the second half, while Bryce Dejean-Jones had 11 of his 15 after the break. Jameel McKay finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds - 10 points and seven rebounds coming after halftime.
''We just started coming together defensively, and kept playing together offensively,'' DeJean-Jones said.
Iowa State was coming off a 77-70 win Monday night over Oklahoma, when it rallied from 21 points. That was the largest comeback in school history - and the biggest this season by a team from one of the power-five conferences.
Kenrich Williams had 17 points and Kyan Anderson, a Fort Worth native and one of three Horned Frogs seniors in their last home game, scored 16. TCU had won its previous three home games.
''It wasn't supposed to end that way for Trey Zeigler, Amric Fields and Kyan Anderson, seniors that have given everything to this basketball program,'' third-year coach Trent Johnson said.
Niang had an assist on Daz Long's 3-pointer from the right wing with 16:54 left that made it 40-37 and gave Iowa State the lead for good.
The lead got extended after Anderson rebounded his own miss after beating the shot clock, only to throw a pass right to Morris for a turnover. Morris took off the other way and had the alley-oop pass to McKay for a highlight dunk.
Trey Zeigler had 14 points and Brandon Parrish 11 for TCU. Karviar Shepherd had 10 rebounds.
TIP-INS
Iowa St.: The Cyclones came in with a Big 12-best 79 points a game, and reached that on Niang's layup with 3:23 left. ... After eight turnovers in the first half, they had just one more the rest of the game. ... Niang, 1-of-6 shooting with three turnovers before halftime, had two assists, two rebounds and a layup in the 16-5 run to start the second half.
TCU: The Horned Frogs lost for only the third time in 19 games this season when they led at halftime. ... TCU twice led by 10 in the first half.
HOIBERG HAS LOST TO TCU
While Hoiberg is 6-0 as a coach against TCU, he has a loss against the Horned Frogs. As a freshman player for the Cyclones early in the 1991-92 season, Hoiberg scored 13 points in a 53-52 loss to TCU in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
HILTON SOUTH?
With constant chants of ''Let's Go State!'' and plenty of cheers, it felt much like a home game for the Cyclones. When TCU called timeout after Iowa State tied the game less than 2 minutes into the second half, Cyclones fans were much louder while Horned Frogs cheerleaders the Showgirls were on the floor. ''I always say that we have the best fans in the world, and it just showed tonight,'' Niang said.
UP NEXT
Iowa State: plays in the quarterfinal round of the Big 12 tournament Thursday against winner of first-round game between Texas and Texas Tech.
TCU: plays Kansas State in the first game of the Big 12 tournament in Kansas City.
