Freshman Melvin Ejim scored 19 points off the bench and Scott Christopherson sparked a second-half run as Iowa State improved to 6-0 under new coach Fred Hoiberg in an 81-59 rout of visiting Montana State on Saturday.

Ejim shot 8-of-10 and added eight rebounds in 28 minutes. He's scored in double figures every game this season. The 6-6 forward is averaging 15.7 points and 6.2 rebounds while shooting 69 percent from the floor.

Christopherson knocked down two shots from the arc within a one-minute stretch that pushed a four-point halftime lead to 50-35 with 15 minutes left in the game. Christopherson scored 16 points and Jake Anderson and Jamie Vanderbeken added 10 each.

Iowa State grabbed 17 offensive rebounds and committed just six turnovers.

Senior point guard Diante Garrett added 17 points, six rebounds and five assists for the Cyclones, who return just three players from last season's team.

Bobby Howard scored 13 points and Erik Rush added 12 for Montana State (5-2), which trailed 33-29 at the half.