No. 2 seed Iowa State Shuts Down No. 7 Kentucky To Advance to Sweet 16
#Iowa State #Kentucky #Sweet 16 #Tamin Lipsey #March Madness #NCAA #basketball #turnovers
📌 Key Takeaways
- Iowa State defeated Kentucky 82-63 to advance to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament
- Senior guard Tamin Lipsey led Iowa State with a career-high 26 points and 10 assists
- Iowa State's defense forced 20 Kentucky turnovers and held them off with a decisive 13-1 second-half run
- The win marks Iowa State's eighth Sweet 16 appearance and third under coach T.J. Otzelberger
- Star forward Joshua Jefferson's status is uncertain due to a sprained ankle, pending an MRI exam
📖 Full Retelling
Tamin Lipsey knew he had to step up for Iowa State with All-America forward Joshua Jefferson sitting on the bench, his sprained left ankle still encased in a boot, as the Cyclones played Kentucky on Sunday for a spot in the Sweet 16. Lipsey, who grew up in the shadows of the Iowa State campus in Ames, answered with the finest game of his four-year career. The senior guard poured in a career-high 26 points, tied a career high with 10 assists, and led a suffocating defense that shut down the Wildcats in the second half, allowing the second-seeded Cyclones to pull away for an 82-63 victory in the NCAA Tournament. "All the guys knew we had to step up in different ways," Lipsey said, "however that presented to us." Lipsey didn't do it alone, of course — he needed someone scoring to pile up all those assists. Milan Momcilovic scored 20 points and Nate Heise, getting the start in Jefferson's place, added 12 to help the Cyclones (29-7) advance to a Midwest Region semifinal against either third-seeded Virginia or No. 6 seed Tennessee on Friday night in Chicago. [March Madness: 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Highlights] It will be the eighth Sweet 16 trip for the Cyclones and the third under T.J. Otzelberger, though the question now is whether they will be whole for it. Jefferson, their second-leading scorer and top rebounder, is scheduled to have an MRI exam on Monday. "We'll see how that goes and take it from there," Otzelberger said. Kentucky (22-14) jumped to a 20-9 lead in the opening minutes Sunday before Iowa State fought back to take a 31-30 halftime lead. The Wildcats were still within 46-40 with 13 1/2 minutes to play when the Cyclones forced three of the Wildcats' 20 turnovers in quick succession. They converted all three into baskets at the other end, part of a decisive 13-1 run, which not only allowed Iowa State to seize control but also seemed to finally deflate Kentucky. The Wildcats had been buzzing after a buzzer-beater from Otega Oweh forced overtime
🏷️ Themes
NCAA Tournament, Basketball Upset, Team Performance
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Original Source
Tamin Lipsey knew he had to step up for Iowa State with All-America forward Joshua Jefferson sitting on the bench, his sprained left ankle still encased in a boot, as the Cyclones played Kentucky on Sunday for a spot in the Sweet 16. Lipsey, who grew up in the shadows of the Iowa State campus in Ames, answered with the finest game of his four-year career. The senior guard poured in a career-high 26 points, tied a career high with 10 assists, and led a suffocating defense that shut down the Wildcats in the second half, allowing the second-seeded Cyclones to pull away for an 82-63 victory in the NCAA Tournament. "All the guys knew we had to step up in different ways," Lipsey said, "however that presented to us." Lipsey didn't do it alone, of course — he needed someone scoring to pile up all those assists. Milan Momcilovic scored 20 points and Nate Heise, getting the start in Jefferson's place, added 12 to help the Cyclones (29-7) advance to a Midwest Region semifinal against either third-seeded Virginia or No. 6 seed Tennessee on Friday night in Chicago. [March Madness: 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Highlights] It will be the eighth Sweet 16 trip for the Cyclones and the third under T.J. Otzelberger, though the question now is whether they will be whole for it. Jefferson, their second-leading scorer and top rebounder, is scheduled to have an MRI exam on Monday. "We'll see how that goes and take it from there," Otzelberger said. Kentucky (22-14) jumped to a 20-9 lead in the opening minutes Sunday before Iowa State fought back to take a 31-30 halftime lead. The Wildcats were still within 46-40 with 13 1/2 minutes to play when the Cyclones forced three of the Wildcats' 20 turnovers in quick succession. They converted all three into baskets at the other end, part of a decisive 13-1 run, which not only allowed Iowa State to seize control but also seemed to finally deflate Kentucky. The Wildcats had been buzzing after a buzzer-beater from Otega Oweh forced overtime
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