Iowa State guard Will Clyburn, left, shoots over Southern center Madut Bol during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game on Friday, Nov. 9, 2012, in Ames, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

AMES — The baseline opened up.

Iowa State’s Will Clyburn traversed it with a few swift steps, punctuating the wow-worthy move with an emphatic one-handed dunk.

The Hilton Coliseum crowd of 13,975 roared as if to say “finally,” and the Cyclones rolled back memories of a sloppy first half, routing Southern 82-59 in Friday’s season opener.

“Plays like that always excite the team,” said Clyburn, who played in his first official game with ISU since transferring from Utah.

“It brings a lot of energy.”

The Cyclones — who trailed by as many as 11 points before the break — needed it.

The Jaguars’ Derick Beltran scored 18 of his game-high 26 in the first 20 minutes.

“They were good, we were awful,” ISU Coach Fred Hoiberg said. “I didn’t recognize that team.”

With the second half came needed shape-shifting.

Clyburn’s move with 10:07 left highlighted a shining sequence for ISU. The score: Cyclones 66, Jaguars 50.

The game: Effectively over, as it came amid a 37-11 ISU run that broke a 41-41 tie.

Clyburn finished with 16 points, 10 rebounds and three assists — two to freshman Goerges Niang, who scored 15 points while grabbing 12 boards.

Sophomore Percy Gibson joined the double-double brigade, notching a team-high 17 points with 10 rebounds.

The Cyclones enjoyed a punishing 59-33 advantage on the glass.