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White’s triple-double earns him a KG plaudit (and a barf bag)

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Mike Miller

Royce White dominated during Iowa State’s 74-50 win against Texas A&M.

He scored (10 points), rebounded (18), passes (10 assists) and essentially controlled the game from the post while playing 35 minutes. His triple-double? Just the fourth in school history.

Then he threw up.

“When I got subbed out at end, I was dizzy, I guess I’m still battling the flu,” White told the Des Moines Register. “Before the game, I was feeling sick. I really didn’t have any feel out there. I was sucking wind the whole game.”

If White, a 6-7 sophomore, can do all that while fighting off the flu, just imagine what he can do when healthy. Or perhaps he should just stay sick. Why mess with a good thing?

And it was a good thing. The Cyclones (12-3 overall, 2-0 in the Big 12) snapped an eight-game skid to A&M, a 12-game losing streak to Texas schools and won its first two conference games for the first time since 2006-07.

White, to his credit, doled out the love to his teammates, terming the triple-double as “a testament to guys making shots.”

A&M coach Billy Kennedy wasn’t buying that (he was impressed) and neither was Iowa State coach Fred Hoiberg, who dropped a massive compliment on his sophomore star.

“I was fortunate to play with Kevin Garnett for a couple seasons,” Hoiberg told the paper. “Royce has that vision — he has the mentality of a point guard.

“He hits guys with no-look passes. He’s a step ahead.”

White isn’t KG, but Hoiberg’s point is clear – White is the type of player who can elevate everyone else’s game. How else would he have logged a triple-double?

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