AMES – No. 8 Iowa State (21-5, 11-4 Big 12) won its fourth-straight in a 79-65 victory over Colorado (10-16, 1-14 Big 12) Tuesday night in Hilton Coliseum.
The win, its third over CU this year, was ISU head coach T.J. Otzelberger’s 91st, marking the most victories by a Cyclone head coach in their first four seasons.
ISU took an early lead, led by as many as 24 points and held the Buffs to just 4-of-17 from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, the Cyclones made 10-of-21 from downtown.
Iowa State received its usual balanced scoring with five players in double-figure scoring. Milan Momcilovic and Dishon Jackson led the way with 13 points each, and Tamin Lipsey and Joshua Jefferson both netted 12 points in the win.
Jefferson grabbed a team-high seven boards and Lipsey had a pair of steals, giving him 224 in his career, one shy of the school record.
ISU is now 18-0 when outscoring its opponent’s bench (24-20).
How it Happened
Halfway through the first half Iowa State had established a 23-7 lead. The Buffs made just one field goal and the Cyclones were 7-of-12 from the floor including a 4-of-7 effort from downtown.
Nate Heise and Momcilovic each had five points to lead the Cyclone attack.
A 6-0 run by CU cut the lead to 10 points, but the Cyclones regrouped and moved ahead 33-15 behind a 10-2 run with Curtis Jones netting five.
Momcilovic, who had 10 points at the break, buried a trey in the final minute to give the Cyclones a 45-28 halftime lead.
Brandton Chatfield scored on two lobs and dished to Heise for a 3-point basket off an offensive board to help pad the Cyclone lead at 55-34 with 13:01 left in the game.
Moments later Jefferson gave the Cyclones a 23-point lead (65-42) with a 3-pointer and putback at the under 10-minute mark.
The Buffs were able trim the lead to 16 points, but Lipsey scored five-quick points, including a 3-pointer, to give ISU a comfortable cushion at 72-51 with five minutes remaining.
Key Performers
Iowa State’s bench has been solid all season and this time it was Nate Heise who provided a spark. Heise tallied a Cyclone-high 11 points, including five quick points to help ISU race out to a 23-7 lead. Heise was 4-of-6 from the floor, 2-of-3 from downtown and added four rebounds.
Notes
Iowa State beat Colorado for the third time this year, marking the 18th time in program history that ISU has beat a team three times in a season.
It is the second time (1985-86) that Iowa State has beaten Colorado three times in a season.
-ISU is 21-5 through 26 games for just the third time in program history and first since 2014.
Iowa State is 11-4 through 15 conference games for the fourth time in program history.
T.J. Otzelberger became the seventh Iowa State coach to win 40 conference games.
Otzelberger’s 91 wins at Iowa State are the most by a coach in their first four seasons.
Tamin Lipsey started his 95th career game as a Cyclone today, tied for the 18th-most in school history.
Lipsey now sits one steal shy of the all-time school record.
He’s now tied for the ninth-most steals in a Big 12 career.
Milan Momcilovic buried his 100th career triple today.
He also eclipsed 600 career points.
Keshon Gilbert moved into the Iowa State career top-20 steals list (113 at ISU), passing Gary Thompkins.
He moved up to no. 18 on the ISU assist leaderboard (271).
Brandton Chatfield won his 90th career game.
Up Next
Iowa State travels to Houston on Saturday (Feb. 22). Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. CT on ESPN.