Iowa State Cyclones

Final stats, analysis: Iowa State moves on at NCAA Tournament

Iowa State crushes Lipscomb, advances to second round of NCAA Tournament

Dana Becker

Curtis Jones goes in for a layup during first half action for Iowa State in the NCAA Tournament.
Curtis Jones goes in for a layup during first half action for Iowa State in the NCAA Tournament. / Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

The Iowa State men hit the floor in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday, taking on Lipscomb.

Tip is set for 12:30 p.m. CST from Milwaukee and the Fiserv Forum and airs on TNT. The game is part of the South Region with the winner advancing to face either Ole Miss or North Carolina on Sunday.

It has been a rough week-plus for the Cyclones, who lost to BYU in the Big 12 Conference Tournament. Keshon Gilbert, the second-leading scorer on the team, has been ruled out for the remainder of the season.

Tamin Lipsey, who missed the loss to the Cougars, is expected to return to the court. And Iowa State has AP All-American Curtis Jones, the leader for sixth-man of the year.

Lipscomb, an automatic qualifier after winning its conference tournament title, is led by Jacob Ognacevic, who is averaging 20 points on 57 percent shooting from the field.

According to the ESPN BPI, the Cyclones are almost 93 percent to win, as ESPN Bet has them favored by 13.5 points. 

Check out our live updates and in-game analysis of Iowa State vs. Lipscomb in the NCAA Tournament below:

(Refresh for the latest updates)

Final Stats, Analysis

While it was great to see Nate Heise and Cade Kelderman have big games for Iowa State in the NCAA Tournament, those two will find the going much more difficult moving forward regardless of who the Cyclones get next. 

Iowa State will need even more out of Milan Momcilovic and Curtis Jones, who combined for 37, as Tamin Lipsey added 10 points. Joshua Jefferson with an all-around game, scoring 10 points with eight rebounds, eight assists, three steals and two blocked shots.

The Cyclones jumped out on Lipscomb in the first 10 minutes of the second half, putting the game away by putting pressure on the Bisons while getting out in transition.

Iowa State will face either Ole Miss or North Carolina on Sunday.

For Lipscomb, Jacob Ognacevic scored 18 and Gyasi Powell had 11 with Will Pruitt chipping in seven and five assists.

Final score: Iowa State 82, Lipscomb 55

Live Second Half Updates

Iowa State 73, Lipscomb 43, 4:45 left in half: Probably time for the deep reserves to hit the floor, as TJ Otzelberger calls a timeout with his Cyclones leading by 30 and just under five minutes to play. 

Iowa State 64, Lipscomb 38, 7:53 left in half: Go ahead and clear your schedule for Sunday Cyclone Nation, as Iowa State is headed to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Milan Momcilovic with 17, Curtis Jones 14 and Nate Heise nine.

Iowa State 56, Lipscomb 32, 11:40 left in half: For the first time in the game, the Cyclones make a free throw, as they have attempted just three in the game. Nevertheless, Iowa State is well on its way to a second round meeting with either Ole Miss or North Carolina on Sunday.

Iowa State 55, Lipscomb 30, 12:46 left in half: A 9-0 run sparked by Cade Kelderman and Curtis Jones off the bench has given the Cyclones their biggest lead of the day and likely ended any hopes of an upset for the Bisons. Jones is up to 12 while Kelderman has five with three assists. 

Kelderman comes up clutch! Cade Kelderman, the walk-on, had three points coming into the game and has scored five in the NCAA Tournament, including a big 3-pointer that gave Iowa State a 19-point lead. What an incredible story for Kelderman and head coach TJ Otzelberger for trusting him.

Iowa State 46, Lipscomb 30, 15:35 left in half: The Bisons have come out strong here in the second half, but each time they appear ready to make a run, the Cyclones have an answer. Walk-on Cade Kelderman, who is seeing more minutes because of injuries, with a steal and layup while both Tamin Lipsey and Dishon Jackson have baskets at the rim.

Halftime Stats, Analysis

Just the kind of half Iowa State wanted, as the pressure defense of TJ Otzelberger has forced seven turnovers against a team committing just over nine per game. The Cyclones closed on a huge run after trailing 16-15, with Milan Momcilovic scoring 17 on three made 3-pointers to lead the way.

Momcilovic, a native of Wisconsin playing in his home state, even got a message from former NFL great JJ Watt for his strong start.

Curtis Jones has eight points with Nate Heise adding five and a team-leaidng five rebounds. Joshua Jefferson has four points with five assists, three rebounds, two steals and a blocked shot.

For Lipscomb, they are shooting just 9 of 25 from the field with five made 3-pointers. Gyasi Pwell has six.

Live First Half Updates

Halftime score: Iowa State 40, Lipscomb 24

Nate the Great! Thrust into the starting lineup, Nate Heise has come through, scoring five points with five rebounds, including a big 3-pointer that pushed the Iowa State lead to 40-24 late in the half. 

Iowa State 37, Lipscomb 21, 2:44 left in half: Curtis Jones gives the Cyclones their biggest lead of the day off a steal and bucket, forcing the timeout. Iowa State has already forced six turnovers against a team committing just 9.5 per game. The Bisons are staying in it thanks to five 3-pointers, as they have just three two-point field goals.

Iowa State 33, Lipscomb 19, 4:26 left in half: Once down 16-15, the Cyclones have gone on an incredible 17-4 run behind 15 points by Momcilovic, who had 11 of 12 during the stretch. Curtis Jones has six.

Cyclone answer! Led by Milan Momcilovic, playing in his home state of Wisconsin, Iowa State has answered, putting together a 12-0 run to go up 27-16 with 8:23 to play before the half. Momcilovic is up to 13 points on 5 of 6 shooting with three 3-pointers.

Lipscomb 16, Iowa State 15, 11:18 left in half: An 11-4 run for Lipscomb, as they are up to four made 3-pointers including two by Gyasi Powell. The Bisons have the crowd behind them early and the Cyclones need some stops on the defensive end.

Iowa State 11, Lipscomb 5, 14:57 left in half: Good start for the Cyclones, as they are moving the ball and finding the open shooter, as evident by a 3-pointer from Milan Momcilovic. Tamin Lipsey with four early and Curtis Jones hits his first shot off the bench. 

Offensive rebound, putback! Tamin Lipsey gets the scoring started for the Cyclones after an offensive rebound following a miss. Good to see Lipsey take his defender off the dribble with no issue.

Getting the start for Iowa State in place of Gilbert will be Nate Heise as Tamin Lipsey is in the starting lineup. Joshua Jefferson, Milan Momcilovic and Dishon Jackson round out the five.

Live Pregame Updates

The Iowa State women tipped off earlier in the day vs. Michigan, pushing the Wolverines to the very end.

Without Keshon Gilbert, the Cyclones will be looking for more out of Milan Momcilovic, Dishon Jackson and Nate Heise, who has filled in during previous injuries to players.

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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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