AMES, Iowa | Alabama State fell behind early and couldn't overcome the hot-shooting of Iowa State, falling 79-53 in front of 13,696 at the Hilton Coliseum in the season opener Tuesday night.

"The guys played hard," Alabama State head coach Lewis Jackson said. "Iowa State is a good team, and they will have a good year. We schedule games like this at the beginning of the year to help us grow and get better. Tonight, we shot ourselves in the foot a little bit on shot selection and turnovers.

"We learned a lot tonight, and you always say if you don't learn something in a loss then it was in vain. We will work on the things we need to work on from tonight, and get ready for our next game against South Dakota State."

Iowa State (1-0) and Alabama State traded the first two baskets of game, both three pointers including one from Leon Daniels of the Hornets to tie the game at 3-all just 50 seconds into the contest. However, from there the Cyclones went on a 12-0 run over the next three minutes to take a 15-3 lead with 16:23 remaining in the first half. Alabama State (0-1) battled back to within seven with 15:30 to play in the half on baskets by Reginald Gee and Fausto Pichardo.

The lead stayed at seven for the next three minutes until Iowa State pushed it out to 10, at 20-10 with 12:29 to play and kept it at double figures for the remaining of the first half.

After the Cyclones pushed the lead to as many as 19 late in the first half, Alabama State fought back to within at 10 with 11:17 remaining in the contest. The Hornets used a three-pointer from Jacoby Ross with 15:03 remaining to pull to within 13, and a layup by Branden Johnson to get to within 48-34. Pichardo connected on a lay-up with 12:34 to play, and Gee pulled the Hornets to within 10 at 48-38 with 11:17 to play in the contest.

But from there Iowa State went on a run and held Alabama State scoreless for a three-minute stretch to pull away for the win.

Gee led Alabama State with 15 points on 50 (5-of-10) percent shooting from the floor, while Leon Daniels added 11 in his first collegiate start – including connecting on a trio of three-pointers. Johnson finished the night with 11 rebounds for the Hornets, while Gene Davis added four assists.

The Hornets shot 36.4 (20-of-55) percent from the floor and 34.6 (9-of-26) percent shooting from beyond the arc, while also hitting on just 40 (4-of-10) percent from the free throw line. The Hornets were forced into 20 turnovers in the loss by Iowa State. Meanwhile, the Cyclones shot 47.8 (32-of-67) percent from the floor, including 54.8 percent in the second half, and 38.5 (10-of-26) percent from beyond the arc. They shot 71.4 (5-of-7) from the free throw line in the victory.

Michael Jacobson led all scorers with 17 points and seven rebounds, while Marial Shayok added 14 – 12 coming in the first half. Lindell Wigginton added 13 and Tyrese Haliburton 12 in the Iowa State win.

Alabama State returns to action Thursday on the road in Brookings, S.D. facing South Dakota State. Tip is set for 7 pm, with pregame at 6:45 pm on the Hornet Sports Network.

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