Iowa State Cyclones Defeat Kansas Jayhawks in Thrilling Home Victory
AMES, Iowa – In a highly anticipated Big 12 Conference matchup, the 18th-ranked Iowa State Cyclones secured a decisive 79-75 victory over the No. 8 Kansas Jayhawks on Saturday afternoon at Hilton Coliseum. This triumph marked the Cyclones’ second win of the week against their southwesterly neighbors, having defeated Kansas State in a controversial fashion on Wednesday.
The Cyclones, now boasting a 16-4 overall record and a 5-2 mark in conference play, have firmly positioned themselves in the Big 12 title race. Texas Tech currently holds the top spot with a single league loss, but Iowa State is determined to challenge for the championship.
“Our standard is the top of the Big 12,” asserted Cyclone point guard Tamin Lipsey. “We’re competing for that every day. That’s what we’ve worked for since the summer. We’ve put in countless hours in the gym and together off the court. We expect the most from ourselves and each other as a team. I’m looking for big things out of us continuing on this season.”
This victory against Kansas marked the first time Iowa State had defeated the Jayhawks at home in back-to-back years since 2015 and 2016. The Cyclones’ impressive performance was bolstered by one of their best 3-point shooting performances of the season. They drained a season-high 14 shots from beyond the arc, surpassing their previous best of 10 made 3-pointers against Eastern Illinois and Florida A&M in non-conference play.
Cyclone forward Tre King, who had previously struggled from 3-point range, made a significant impact in this game. He connected on 4-of-7 attempts from deep, contributing 21 points to the team’s total. Keshon Gilbert added 16 points for the Cyclones, while Lipsey dished out eight assists.
Clutch 3-Pointer Seals the Victory
Iowa State maintained a lead of up to 12 points in the second half, but Kansas managed to reduce the deficit to just two points in the final minute. In a tense moment, the Cyclones relied on a clutch 3-pointer from Gilbert to secure the win. With the shot clock winding down, Gilbert delivered a timely shot from beyond the arc, putting Iowa State up by five points with only 41 seconds remaining. Kansas was unable to mount a successful comeback, and the Cyclones ultimately prevailed.
“In the first half, we ran the same play, and two (defenders) came to me and I had to kick it out to Milan (Momcilovic),” Gilbert explained. “They kind of guarded it a little different. I didn’t have nowhere to go so I hit him with a little move and I just shot it. I was lucky enough for it to go in.”
Iowa State’s impressive 3-point shooting performance was a key factor in their victory. Despite being among the worst 3-point shooting teams in the Big 12 during league play, the Cyclones connected on 14 of their 30 attempts from deep against Kansas.
“Give them credit,” said Kansas coach Bill Self. “Could we have done better? Yes. A lot of it was they made shots they hadn’t been making statistically this year. We played the percentages, thinking coming up here that would be the smart play and we could eliminate some ball-screen stuff by switching. They made us pay for it. They shot it great.”
King’s unexpected sharpshooting performance was a pleasant surprise for the Cyclones. Iowa State had anticipated this possibility and encouraged King to take open shots when presented with the opportunity.
“It was one thing we talked about in preparing for this game that a lot of guys were going to help off of me because they didn’t think I could shoot the ball,” King said. “So one thing coach T.J. and coach (Erik) Crawford really talked to me about is if they sag off and it’s the right shot and the right time, take it and make it.”
Cyclone head coach T.J. Otzelberger attributed the team’s improved shooting performance not to luck but to their dedication and hard work.
“Our guys’ ball movement, looking for one another, trust in the work that they do every single day was so important,” he said. “It’s not as much as a fluke shooting effort as much as a bunch of guys who are really hungry to get a win, who play for one another and knock down the shots when the opportunity presented itself.”
Changing Landscape of the Big 12 Conference
Due to the Big 12’s expansion to 14 teams this season, the round-robin schedule that was a hallmark of the 10-team conference has been eliminated. As a result, this was the only regular-season meeting between Iowa State and Kansas. The Cyclones will not play in Lawrence for the first time since 1921, depriving the conference and the sport of one of its most entertaining matchups.
This change in scheduling also alters the perception of what a regular-season league championship means. Coach Self, who has won an impressive 16 regular-season Big 12 championships, shared his thoughts on the matter.
“I could be wrong on this, OK, I think winning the league mindset with players and fans is different than it was when you knew you were playing everybody twice,” Self said. “We’re playing Baylor twice. We’re playing Houston twice. We’re playing Oklahoma twice, who’s been in the top-10. We’re playing our rival K-State twice. I was in the Big Ten when it was an unbalanced league. A lot of times the favorite in the league is depending on who you get at home and who you get on the road. To me, it’s going to be a fabulous league. Whoever wins the league should be a one-seed. That’s how I see it, regardless. But I don’t think it has the same meaning, at least when you go into a locker room and you have the standings up there and it’s uneven and you’re not playing the same people. I don’t think it has the same bearing right now as what it’s had in years past.”
Honoring a Longtime Official
During the game, Iowa State recognized John Higgins, a longtime referee known for his work in Final Fours and his striking blonde hair. Iowa State athletic director Jamie Pollard presented Higgins with a framed picture of Hilton Coliseum before tip-off. Higgins, who often officiated Big 12 games at Hilton Coliseum, was met with cheers from Cyclone fans, despite their past tendency to boo him during his career.
Higgins, a native of nearby Omaha, Nebraska, retired after 35 years of officiating, including 29 NCAA Tournaments, nine Final Fours, and two national title games. He is now the coordinator of officials for the Western Basketball Officiating Consortium.
Upcoming Schedule
After a grueling week that included two intense games and allegations of huddle spying by Kansas State, Iowa State will have a brief respite before their next contest. The Cyclones will not have their usual mid-week game and instead will have a few days off before traveling to Waco on Saturday to face the No. 14 Baylor Bears.
The Bears, currently holding a 14-4 record and a 3-2 mark in conference play, have recently suffered two consecutive losses on the road. Iowa State swept Baylor in three games last season, and they will look to repeat that success in their upcoming matchup.
Don’t miss the Cyclones’ next thrilling game as they take on the Baylor Bears this Saturday! Witness high-flying action and intense competition as Iowa State fights for a Big 12 title. Secure your tickets now and be a part of the electrifying atmosphere at the Ferrell Center!