Iowa State Cyclones

Game recap, analysis: No. 3 Iowa State survives on road, scores Big 12 victory

Iowa State earned a hard-fought win on the road over Colorado Monday night

Dana Becker

Keshon Gilbert and third-ranked Iowa State open Big 12 Conference play Monday night at Colorado.
Keshon Gilbert and third-ranked Iowa State open Big 12 Conference play Monday night at Colorado. / Reese Strickland-Imagn Images

The third-ranked Iowa State men open Big 12 Conference play on the road, taking on Colorado Monday night.

Since a loss to No. 2 Auburn, the Cyclones (10-1) have been on a roll, including a key win over in-state rival Iowa. That game saw Iowa State erase a deficit with a big second half to earn the road victory.

The Buffaloes (9-2) have won four straight since a loss to Iowa State at the Maui Invitational. That includes double-digit victories in the last three. 

Coming into the night, Iowa State is averaging 88.5 points per game while allowing just 65.5. They are shooting over 51 percent from the field, as Colorado enters averaging just under 77 while allowing 68.

The ESPN FPI gives the Cyclones an 80.5 percent chance to win, as they are 8.5-point favorites. The over/under for the game has been set at 146.5 points.

Check out our live updates and in-game analysis of Iowa State at Colorado below:

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Final Stats, Analysis

Winning on the road is never easy, and that is especially true when it comes to conference play. Iowa State found that out on Monday night, surviving against a strong-shooting Colorado team to open Big 12 action with a victory.

Curtis Jones was once again solid off the bench, scoring 20 points with a pair of made 3-pointers. The Cyclones struggled from deep, shooting just 22 percent, but were able to control the glass and paint. 

Keshon Gilbert added 14 points, Joshua Jefferson had 13 and Tamin Lipsey 10 including a key 3-pointer during a stretch that allowed ISU to gain some separation. Both Jefferson and Brandton Chatfield each grabbed seven rebounds. 

Julian Hammond III led Colorado with 21 points, four rebounds and four assists, RJ Smith had 14 with three made triples and Bangot Dak came off the bench to score four points with eight rebounds and five assists. 

Second Half Live Updates

Final score: Iowa State 79, Colorado 69

The Cyclones are going to escape Boulder with their win streak and national ranking intact thanks to a strong second half performance. Four players reach double figures led once again by Curtis Jones off the bench.

Iowa State 70, Colorado 65, 3:27 left in second: The Cyclones have been pushed to their limits here on the road against a pesky Colorado team. Buckets late by Keshon Gilbert and Joshua Jefferson have allowed the Cyclones to maintain a lead.

Iowa State 61, Colorado 57, 7:41 left in second: Just before the media timeout, Tamin Lipsey hits his biggest shot of the night, draining a 3-pointer to give the Cyclones a two-possession advantage. Dishon Jackson with a jumper as part of a 9-2 run for Iowa State.

CuJo to the rescue, again! Once again, it is Curtis Jones who gives Iowa State a spark, scoring four straight out of the media timeout. Jones with a layup followed by a second bucket following a steal from Joshua Jefferson. 

Colorado 55, Iowa State 52, 11:01 left in second: The Buffaloes have control of this one, using their strong outside shooting to hold the lead as we head into another media timeout. Colorado has the edge on the glass, has made four more 3-pointers and is shooting 55 percent from the field. 

Colorado 51, Iowa State 48, 13:24 left in second: The Buffaloes take the lead back after a dunk by Trevor Baskin and a jumper from Bangot Dak, forcing a Cyclone timeout. Iowa State led 43-31 two minutes into the half, but Colorado has answered with a 20-5 run.

Colorado just won’t go away: The Buffaloes continue to have an answer each time for Iowa State. Julian Hammond III with a big 3-pointer along with Sebastian Rancik. Curtis Jones is the lone Cyclone in double figures with 14 to go at 12 points.

Iowa State 43, Colorado 39, 15:59 left in second half: After the Cyclones put together a strong start behind Dishon Jackson to the half, the Buffaloes have answered. Back-to-back 3-pointers by RJ Smith and a dunk from Elijah Malone cut the once double-digit lead down to four. 

Iowa State 43, Colorado 31, 18:14 left in second half: The Cyclones have their biggest lead of the game at 12 following a dunk by Dishon Jackson. Jackson has scored eight since the second half started.

Halftime Stats, Analysis

After missing the first three 3-pointers of the night, Iowa State hits its last three, including a buzzer-beater by Curtis Jones, who has a team-high 10 points with two of those triples. Keshon Gilbert has eight points and Joshua Jefferson seven, as the Cyclones have overcome just 41 percent shooting from the field and 27 percent shooting from deep to hold a lead.

For Colorado, Julian Hammond III has a game-high 12 points with three assists, hitting two 3-pointers. RJ Smith has eight. 

Most of the numbers are very similar, as both teams have missed just one free throw each with Iowa State grabbing 17 rebounds and Colorado 16. The Buffaloes have 12 turnovers, which have resulted in 13 ISU points compared to five turnovers for the Cyclones. Iowa State also leads fast-break points, 9-2, and points in the paint, 20-16.

First Half Live Updates

End of first half: Iowa State 37, Colorado 31

CuJo comes up big! As the first half comes to an end, Curtis Jones sinks a 3-pointer off an assist by Keshon Gilbert, giving Iowa State its biggest lead of the night at the half. Brandton Chatfield with a huge defensive play, blocking a layup by Elijah Malone that would have cut it to a one-possession game.

Iowa State 32, Colorado 27, 2:43 left in first half: Curtis Jones caps a strong Cyclone run with a 3-pointer, giving them their biggest lead of the game. Milan Momcilovic also had a triple during the run which sparked things. Those are the first two made triples of the game for Iowa State, who missed its first 10 from deep. 

Colorado 20, Iowa State 19, 7:49 left in first half: The offenses have gotten going in spurts, with the Cyclones using a 6-2 run to take a 17-13, which was countered by five straight from teh Buffaloes to go back up, 18-17. Back-to-back layups by Keshon Gilbert and Joshua Jefferson gave Iowa State its biggest lead of the night at 14-11 with just under 11 minutes to go. 

Iowa State 10, Colorado 10, 11:56 left in first half: Three unanswered by Javon Ruffin tie us up at the second media timeout. Some deliberate offense by the Cyclones, which is more typical of a TJ Otzelberger coached team. Keshon Gilbert gave ISU its first lead of the night at 8-7 with a layup off an offensive rebound from Brandton Chatfield. 

Colorado 7, Iowa State 6, 15:13 left in first half: Bit of a slow start through the early going for both teams, as the Buffaloes have committed four turnovers which have led to four points for the Cyclones. Colorado leading scorer Julian Hammond III had the first five points of the game, including a 3-pointer to open the scoring. Joshua Jefferson, Keshon Gilbert and Brandton Chatfield all with a bucket each for ISU.

Pregame Updates

Colorado is unbeaten at home this season, winning all eight games. Iowa State has played just once officially away from Ames, the win over Iowa. Justin Hammond III will need to have a big game to give the underdog Buffaloes a chance, as he averages 13 points and 3.5 assists. 

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Dana Becker
DANA BECKER

Dana Becker has been a sports writer in Iowa since 2000, writing for The Fort Dodge Messenger, Mason City Globe-Gazette, Cedar Rapids Gazette and others. Dana resides in north-central Iowa.

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