VALPARAISO, Ind. (AP) — Derrik Smits finished with 21 points and 11 rebounds for his third double-double of the season and Valparaiso turned back Northern Iowa 75-66 on Saturday.

Smits sank 9 of 18 from the floor to help the Crusaders (12-7, 5-1 Missouri Valley Conference) shoot 51 percent for the game (26 of 51). Bakari Evelyn came off the bench to hit three 3-pointers and score 14, while Markus Golder added 13 points and six boards. Valparaiso had a 34-20 rebound advantage and that led to a 14-4 edge in second-chance points.

Valparaiso also outscored the Panthers (8-11, 3-3) 34-14 in the paint.
Freshman AJ Green made all 10 of his free throws and scored 25 to pace Northern Iowa. Luke McDonnell scored 14 with five rebounds and three assists.

Golder scored all of his points in the first half to help the Crusaders take a 36-30 lead at intermission. NIU trailed 52-48 after McDonnell’s 3-pointer with 9:58 left to play, but Evelyn’s 3-pointer capped a 6-0 run and Valparaiso kept it a two-possession game from there. The Panthers shot 44 percent from the floor, but made just 7 of 24 from distance (29 percent).

AMES, Iowa (AP) — The Lindell Wigginton and Cam Lard that Iowa State had hoped to see all season finally showed up on Saturday, giving the Cyclones the hope that last year’s stars are ready to play bigger roles down the stretch.

Marial Shayok scored 20 points and the Cyclones beat the Cowboys 72-59, sweeping the season series .

Wigginton had 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting and Lard added 12 points, five rebounds and three blocks in just 14 minutes for the Cyclones (14-4, 4-2 Big 12), who forced 15 turnovers and used a late 13-2 run to hold off the Cowboys.

“I feel like I’m starting to get into a rhythm,” said Wigginton, who has been coming off the bench after battling a foot injury last month. “It’s been tough with my situation … but my teammates and my coaches just told me to stick with it — and that’s what I’m trying to do.”

After letting Oklahoma State creep to within five, Shayok followed a jumper with a wide-open corner 3 to give Iowa State a 59-47 lead with 5:30 left. Shayok buried another 3, this one contested, to push the Cyclones’ lead to 13 with 3:49 to go.
Iowa State also didn’t turn the ball over in the second half and finished with just six.

“I’m happy for (Wigginton), because we need him and Cameron to be at their best,” Iowa State coach Steve Prohm said.
Cameron McGriff scored 17 points and Lindy Waters had 14 to lead Oklahoma State (8-10, 2-4), which dropped its second straight game. The Cowboys opened the second half on an 11-2 run after falling behind by 11, but they didn’t get any closer.

“I thought it was a competitive game for the most part,” Oklahoma State coach Mike Boynton said. “When you’re down men, you can’t lose the 50-50 battle, which we did, and didn’t have a chance, really, to put much pressure on them when we missed some free throws down the stretch.”

UP NEXT
Iowa State plays at No. 7 Kansas on Monday. The Jayhawks should have plenty of motivation after losing to West Virginia earlier Saturday.

Oklahoma State hosts Oklahoma on Wednesday.

The Harlan wrestling team finished 4th at the Plattsmouth, NE Invite on Saturday.

The Cyclones were led by runner-up finishes by Oscar Olmos (145) and Derec Weyer (285).

Team Scoring

1. Millard South 252.5
2. Blair 200
3. GI Northwest 187
4. Harlan 149.5
5. Plattsmouth 142
6. Seward 108
7. Bellevue East 97.5
8. Elkhorn 83
9. Ralston 83
10. Auburn 74.5
11. Lincoln High 60
12. Fairbury 55.5

The Underwood wrestling team picked up a team title at the Louisville, NE Invite on Saturday. Underwood had five individual champions at the event. Winners for the Eagles were Steve Barnes (106), Logan James (132), Nick Hamilton (138), Blake Thomsen, (145), and Michael Baker (160). AHSTW finished 3rd in the team race and were led by runner-up finishes from Ben Ehlers at 138 and Jaeden Rasmussen at 145.

Team Scoring

1. Underwood 236
2. Battle Creek, NE 173
3. AHSTW 154
4. Sutton, NE 150
5. Norris, NE 143.5
6. Weeping Water, NE 131
7. Wilber-Clatonia, NE 123.5
8. Malcom, NE 121.5
9. J.C.C., NE 113
10. Louisville, NE 94.5
11. HTRS-PC, NE 68
12. Harvard, NE 51