Iowa State into Sweet 16 with 78-61 win over Little Rock

By ARNIE STAPLETON THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

9 years ago

Iowa State forward Georges Niang reacts after hitting a basket against Arkansas Little Rock during the first half of a second-round men’s college basketball game Saturday, March 19, 2016, in the NCAA Tournament in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Iowa State forward Georges Niang, third from left, goes up for a shot as Arkansas-Little Rock guards Jermaine Ruttley and Kemy Osse and forward Maurius Hill, from left, defend during the first half of a second-round men’s college basketball game Saturday, March 19, 2016, in the NCAA Tournament in Denver. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley)

Iowa State forward Georges Niang, left, drives for the basket as Arkansas Little Rock forward Roger Woods, center, and guard Kemy Osse defend during the first half of a second-round men’s college basketball game Saturday, March 19, 2016, in the NCAA Tournament in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Iowa State guard Monte Morris, right, drives as Arkansas Little Rock guard Josh Hagins defends during the first half of a second-round men’s college basketball game Saturday, March 19, 2016, in the NCAA Tournament in Denver. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley)

DENVER — Georges Niang scored 28 points and Iowa State kept Josh Hagins from any more second-half heroics in a 78-61 win over Little Rock in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday.

The Cyclones (23-11) advanced to their second Sweet 16 in three years. They will play the Virginia-Butler winner in Chicago next weekend.

Niang, the winningest player (97) in Cyclones history and Iowa State’s only two-time All-American, was simply too much for the 12th-seeded Trojans (30-5) of the Sun Belt.

For the second straight game, Hagins had just two points at halftime.

Unlike last time, when he went off for 29 more in a double-overtime win against Purdue, Hagins added just six after the break.