Iowa State Cyclones

Game recap, analysis: Iowa State falls for first time in heartbreaking fashion to Auburn

Iowa State unable to hold on after building an 18-point lead vs. Auburn at the Maui Invitational

Dana Becker

Joshua Jefferson and Iowa State take on Auburn in the Maui Invitational Monday night.
Joshua Jefferson and Iowa State take on Auburn in the Maui Invitational Monday night. / Reese Strickland-Imagn Images

The Iowa State men showed they can play with anybody in the nation. But they also need to figure out how to finish games off.

After building a 16-point halftime lead, and holding an 18-point advantage at one time over No. 4 Auburn, the fifth-ranked Cyclones suffered a heartbreaking 83-81 defeat at the Maui Invitational Monday night.

The Tigers would go on several runs over the final 20 minutes of action, finally getting hot from the 3-point line while limiting their second half turnovers.

Check out our game recap and in-game analysis of Iowa State vs. Auburn from the Maui Invitational: 

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Final Stats: Auburn 83, Iowa State 81

The Tigers finish off the comeback with a tip-in off a missed as Johni Broome gets the job done. Broome was able to get free and pushed the ball back up off the glass following a miss by Denver Jones. Iowa State had possession but turned it over with the shot clock winding down. 

Auburn outscored the Cyclones 50-32 after the break to erase a 16-point halftime deficit. The Tigers were led by Broome, as he scored 21 and had 10 rebounds with two steals, two blocks and two assists. Chad Baker-Mazara added 18 and Thaad Pettiford had 14. 

For Iowa State, Keshon Gilbert finished with 23 points on 8 of 10 shooting while Curtis Jones added 14. Dishon Jackson scored 13 and Milan Momcilovic had 12 with Joshua Jefferson chipping in nine points and eight rebounds. 

Second Half Live Updates

Offensive rebounds hurting ISU: Auburn has started to control the glass, as they now hold the advantage. After back-to-back misses out of the latest TV timeout, the Tigers grabbed two more offensive rebounds to maintain the ball and a four-point lead with 2:25 to go.

Auburn 77, Iowa State 73, 3:17 to go: The Tigers have outscored the Cyclones, 44-24, over the second half of play. Four straight points by Denver Jones have given them the lead for the first time all night. Iowa State is going to have to show some poise over the final three minutes to pull this one out. 

Broome ties it up! The Auburn star knocks down a 3-pointer and it is 73-73 with under four to play in Maui. Broome has 19 to lead alls corers, adding seven rebounds. Chad Baker-Mazara has hit three 3-pointers as the Tigers are up to nine triples on the night.

Iowa State 71, Auburn 65, 7:20 left: After the under-eight timeout, the Cyclones hold a slim lead as Gilbert has 17 to lead the way. However, he has been hit with four fouls and is the only Iowa State player with four. Both teams have struggled from the free throw stripe, missing a combined nine shots. 

Cyclones put on a run! Iowa State finally is clicking, building its lead back up to 67-62 as we go under 10 minutes left in the second half. Keshon Gilbert leads the Cyclones with 15 points while Milan Momcilovic has knocked down a pair of 3-pointers and has 12. Tamin Lipsey continues to struggle, shooting just 2-for-7 from the field. 

All tied up: A 20-4 run to start the third has erased a 16-point lead Iowa State built, as Auburn continues to knock shots down. Broome has 14, Baker-Mazara has 11 and two Cyclone starters have three fouls each with 13-plus to go in the game. 

Chad Baker-Mazara heating up: The Tigers have turned a 16-point deficit into a 51-47 game with under 16 to go, using a 14-2 run out of the break. Chad Baker-Mazara has heated up, knocking down a pair of 3-pointers to spark Auburn. 

Tigers not going away: As expected, Auburn has come out strong in the second half, using an 8-2 run to cut the lead down to 10. Broome has caught fire, up to 14 points, as five different Iowa State players now have two fouls each.

Halftime Stats: Iowa State 49, Auburn 33

The Cyclones hold a commanding 49-33 lead over the Tigers in a Top 5 showdown at the Maui Invitational. Iowa State used a strong start to take an early advantage, as eight different players have scored. 

Keshon Gilbert leads the balanced attack with 10 followed by nine from Joshua Jefferson, eight by Curtis Jones and seven from Dishon Jackson. Both Gilbert and Tamin Lipsey, along with reserves Brandton Chatfield and Nojus Indrusaitis, have two fouls each. The Cyclones hold a slim 15-12 edge in total rebounds and have committed just one turnover to seven by Auburn.

For the Tigers, Johni Broome and Tahaad Pettford each have 10 points. 

First Half Updates

All Cyclones! Iowa State jumps out to a 41-25 lead at the four-minute break, as Jefferson is up to nine and Jones has eight. Jackson with seven and Gilbert six as eight of the nine who have played for ISU have scored. The Cyclones with five 3-pointers and a 13-8 edge on the glass. Iowa State also has committed just one turnover to six by Auburn, who is shooting 35 percent from the field. 

Iowa State hitting on all cylinders! The Cyclones have knocked down four 3-pointers including two from Jefferson. Curtis Jones has come off the bench to provide a spark with five points as Iowa State leads 30-17 with 8:20 to go in the first half. 

Iowa State up 10! The Cyclones pushed their advantage to 10 with just under nine to go, leading Auburn 27-17. Jefferson has eight points and Gilbert six, but Gilbert has picked up two quick fouls. Auburn’s leading scorer, Broome, has been held to just four points on 1-for-3 shooting from the floor. 

Iowa State leads early! Keshon Gilbert picking up right where he left off with six points in the opening eight minutes to help the Cyclones get out to a 17-13 lead. Both teams have struggled from deep, shooting a combined 2-for-10 from the 3-point line. Joshua Jefferson has five and Dishon Jackson four for ISU while Johni Broome and Chaney Johnson each have four for Auburn.

Pregame Updates

No. 5 Iowa State will start Tamin Lipsey, Keshon Gilbert, Milan Momcilovic, Joshua Jefferson and Dishon Jackson vs. Auburn at the Maui Invitational.

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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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