By LUKE MEREDITH
AP Sports Writer

AMES, Iowa (AP) -- Freshman Georges Niang hit a layup with 2.5
seconds left and Iowa State beat West Virginia 69-67 Wednesday
night despite blowing an 18-point lead.



Melvin Ejim had 16 points and 13 rebounds for the Cyclones
(12-4, 2-1 Big 12), who survived an unexpectedly wild finish for
their second straight win.



Iowa State opened the second half with an 18-4 run and led by as
much as 56-38. The Mountaineers (8-8, 1-3) tied it at 67 on 3 by
Jabarie Hinds with 11.6 seconds left, but Niang got wide open
for the game-winner underneath the basket.



Hinds had 20 points for West Virginia. Juwan Staten, the
Mountaineers second-leading scorer, had seven points and seven
assists after being benched by coach Bob Huggins for the
previous three halves.



West Virginia missed its first 12 3-point attempts before
hitting nine of its last 12.