Curtis Stinson scored 20 points, Rahshon Clark added 17 and Jiri Hubalek finished with 13 points and eight rebounds as Iowa State (6-2) handed No. 12 Iowa its second loss to an in-state rival in four days in a 72-60 decision.
The visiting Hawkeyes fell to 7-3.
Playing for No. 1
What already has been an exciting season now gets the best matchup the rankings can provide: No. 1 Duke plays No. 2 Texas on Saturday at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, N.J.
Nothing that matters is at stake now as it would be in a few months. Still, playing in just the 35th 1-2 matchup since the AP poll started in 1948 provides an opportunity for national attention.
“I told our team we were given a preseason ranking of No. 2, it’s not something we’ve earned,” Texas coach Rick Barnes said. “If you want to be the No. 1 team in the country, you have to beat the No. 1 team in the country. These are the games kids come to school for.”
Welcome back
Mississippi State forward Walter Sharpe has regained his academic eligibility and could play this weekend against Troy.
Sharpe missed seven games during the fall semester because he failed to make sufficient progress during the 2004-05 academic year, but he passed 17 credit hours of classes and is back on track to earn a degree, said David Boles, Mississippi State associate athletic director for student services.
UTEP player apologizes
UTEP leading scorer Jason Williams apologized Friday following his indefinite suspension for punching a teammate and breaking his jaw during practice.
“I’m here to apologize first and foremost to Stefon (Jackson) for the position I put him in,” Williams said.
Williams, a senior forward who averages 15.4 points per game for UTEP (4-1), also apologized to his coaches, the university and fans.
Williams said he agrees with coach Doc Sadler’s suspension.
“I’m a 100 percent behind his decision; I take responsibility for that,” Williams said. “My main focus is that [Jackson] gets over this.”
It is unclear when Jackson or Williams will play again.
