AMES – In a game where No. 6 Iowa State struggled to score its defense saved the day. Iowa State (21-6, 10-4 Big 12) forced 23 turnovers, including seven in a five-minute stretch late in the second half, in a 71-64 victory over West Virginia (9-18, 4-10 Big 12) Saturday afternoon in Hilton Coliseum.
The Cyclones went 0-of-6 from 3-point range in the second half but ramped up their defense when needed to remain unbeaten at home at 16-0.
ISU trailed in the second half of a home game for the first time in six games when WVU’s Kobe Johnson hit a 3-pointer to give the Mountaineers the lead at 51-50 with 9:05 remaining.
ISU then suffocated the Mountaineers, who committed seven turnovers, during a critical 14-0 run to put the game out of reach. Tamin Lipsey led the Cyclones with 14 points and six assists and Curtis Jones added 12 points and had two of ISU’s 14 steals, the 15th time this season ISU has recorded double-digit thefts in a game.
It marked the 10th time this season an ISU opponent has registered 20 or more miscues.
How It Happened
West Virginia made 4-of-6 shots, including 3-of-3 from beyond the arc, to race out to an early 11-2 lead. Iowa State began chipping away, however. Curtis Jones came off the bench and knocked down a pair of triples in a 11-1 run to give the Cyclones their first lead.
Keshon Gilbert then scored three baskets and Milan Momcilovic drained a 3-pointer to give ISU a 24-19 advantage with 8:30 remaining in the first half.
After a Mountaineer basket, ISU went on a 7-0 run behind a pair of buckets from Jackson Paveletzke and the Cyclone lead increased to 31-21. Lipsey made a pair of 3-pointers in the final three minutes to help the Cyclones go into the break with a 40-30 advantage.
WVU scored on its first four possessions of the second half to trim the Cyclone lead to 44-40 before first media timeout. Jesse Edwards had five points for the Mountaineers.
When Josiah Harris converted a 3-point play on a baseline drive and Johnson hit a 3-pointer, the Mountaineers retook the lead at 51-50 with 9:05 remaining in the game. It was the first time ISU trailed in the second half at home since in six games (Houston).
But the Cyclones bounced back with stingy defense the next five minutes during their pivotal 14-0 run to move ahead 64-51 with 3:27 remaining.
Key Performer
Tamin Lipsey was 4-of-9 from the field and 2-of-2 from 3-point range en route to his team-high 14 points. Lipsey also recorded two steals to increase his season total to 73, tying for the third-best single-season total in school history. His 73 thefts on the year are also an ISU sophomore record.
Up Next
Iowa State remains at home, playing host to Oklahoma on Wednesday (Feb. 28). Tipoff is at 7 p.m. CT on Big 12 Network/ESPN+.
