In a thrilling matchup, No. 3 Iowa State staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Iowa 89-80 on Thursday night. Curtis Jones led the charge with 23 points, supported by Joshua Jefferson's impressive performance of 19 points and 10 rebounds.
The Cyclones, now 8-1, ended a four-game road losing streak in the series with this hard-fought victory. Nate Heise's crucial layup with 3:05 remaining gave Iowa State their first lead of the game at 76-74, capitalizing on Iowa's cold shooting spell.
Despite Iowa's early 13-point lead, Iowa State stayed resilient, gradually closing the gap. Dishon Jackson contributed 12 points, while Tamin Lipsey added 11 to secure the win for the Cyclones.
On the other side, Owen Freeman led Iowa with 16 points, with Josh Dix and Payton Sandfort chipping in 14 and 13 points, respectively.
Key Takeaways
Iowa State: Overcoming a slow start from beyond the arc, the Cyclones found their rhythm in the second half, finishing 8 of 15 on 3-pointers. Lipsey's early second-half three-pointer sparked their offensive resurgence.
Iowa: Despite having a full roster for the first time this season, the Hawkeyes struggled with their shooting, missing crucial opportunities down the stretch. Ladji Dembele's impactful performance off the bench provided a silver lining for Iowa.
Key Moment
Freeman's missed free throws with 3:34 left in the game proved pivotal, as Iowa State seized the lead shortly after and closed out the game with a strong finish, outscoring Iowa 15-6 in the final minutes.
Key Stat
This closely contested game marked a departure from the usual blowout results in the nonconference rivalry, with the last six games being decided by an average of 20.3 points.
Up Next
The Cyclones will return home for a two-game stretch to wrap up nonconference play, facing Omaha next. Meanwhile, the Hawkeyes will host New Orleans in their upcoming matchup.
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