AMES – Iowa State (11-2, 0-0 Big 12) used strong starts to both halves and a triple-double by Keshon Gilbert to knock off New Hampshire (8-5, 0-0 American East), 85-70, Sunday afternoon in Hilton Coliseum.
The Cyclones opened the first half with a 16-3 run and the second period with a 23-8 flurry to put the Wildcats away in their final non-conference game of the season.
Gilbert was all over the court, scoring 10 points, grabbing 10 rebounds and dishing out a career-high 11 assists for the eighth triple-double, and second of the season, in Cyclone history. Tamin Lipsey posted a triple-double earlier this year against DePaul. The Cyclones are the only team in the nation this year and the 12th since 1996-97 to have two different players record a triple-double.
Eight of Gilbert’s 10 points were in the second half, including seven at the beginning of the second half to break open a close game. He also had four steals.
Six different Cyclones were in double-figure scoring, led by Tamin Lipsey’s 16. Milan Momcilovic added 15 points on a couple of 3-pointers, Tre King had 13, Hason Ward – seeing his first action since Nov. 12 – came off the bench to score 10 points and Curtis Jones also chipped in 10.
How It Happened
Iowa State made 7-of-10 shots to race out to a 16-3 lead in the first four minutes. Lipsey had seven quick points and Momcilovic scored five to get the Cyclones off to a fast start.
Curtis Jones gave the Cyclones a 23-8 lead on a steal and lay-in at the 12-minute mark of the first half. Iowa State continued its hot shooting and increased its lead to 16 points (34-18) when Momcilovic converted a 3-point play when he was fouled on a lay-up.
Tre King scored five-straight points, including his first 3-pointer of the season, to increase the Cyclone lead to 41-21.
ISU led by 22 points until UNH scored the final 14 points of the half to cut the Cyclone lead to 43-35 at the break.
The lull at the end of the half gave the Cyclones a spark out of intermission, as ISU jumped out to an 11-1 run to move back ahead 54-36. Gilbert had five points in the run.
The Cyclones kept the foot on the gas with back-to-back 3-pointers from Lipsey and Curtis Jones to pad the lead to 66-43 with 12 minutes left in the game.
With 6:34 remaining, the Cyclone lead ballooned to 81-53.
Top Performer
Tamin Lipsey complemented Gilbert’s outstanding game with another strong performance. Lipsey posted 16 points, five rebounds, six assists and four steals. It was Lipsey’s sixth game with four or more steals on the season. He also made a trio of 3-pointers.
Notes
Jackson Paveletzke recorded assist number 150 on the afternoon.
Tamin Lipsey moved into 18th all-time in program history for steals, nabbing four on the day.
He has 120 in his career.
Lipsey also recorded assist number 225 on the day.
Curtis Jones is now two rebounds shy of 250 in his career.
Keshon Gilbert surpassed 250 career rebounds, tying a personal best today with ten boards.
Gilbert’s 11 assists as part of his triple double were also a career mark.
Gilbert joins teammate Tamin Lipsey, Tyrese Haliburton, Monté Morris, Royce White, Jamaal Tinsley, Curtis Stinson and Marc Urquhart as members of the illustrious club.
Robert Jones played in his 80th career game today.
He is one made FG away from 350 in his career.
What’s Next
The Big 12 season slate begins next weekend, as the Cyclones travel to Oklahoma on Saturday (Jan. 6). Tipoff is at 5 p.m. CT on the Big 12 Network/ESPN+.
