AMES – A 13-point first-half deficit proved no problem for No. 4 Iowa State (10-0), as the Cyclones used a 19-0 run between the end of the first half and start of the second to rally past rival Iowa (8-2) to win, 66-62.
The Hawkeyes led by as many as 13 points and by eight points at the break, but the Cyclones used a 19-0 and 22-4 run over the first eight minutes of the second half to build a double-digit lead.
Though the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk series was secured last night with the women’s basketball team winning, Iowa State secured its first-ever single-season sweep across volleyball, football, wrestling, and men’s/women’s basketball against the Hawkeyes. The Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series standings now sit at 15-2 in favor of the Cyclones, and ISU has now won the series in four of the last five years and holds the all-time edge, 10-9 (the series began in 2004).
The Cyclones struggled from the field in the first half, as Iowa slowly built up a double-figure lead on the road in its second-straight away contest against a top-ten team. Down 13 with 3:03 left in the first half, the Cyclone slowly began to chip away. ISU would trim the Hawkeye lead to eight at the break before opening the second half with 16 straight points to take an eight-point lead. ISU would hold the lead for the remainder of the contest as it went on to win its tenth straight. It is ISU’s fourth time going 10-0 to begin a season.
Joshua Jefferson was massive for the Cyclones, as the senior forward had a game-high 24 points to go with five boards, two blocks and two steals. Tamin Lipsey (14) and Milan Momcilovic (10) rounded out the double figure scorers for ISU. Blake Buchanan had a team-high six boards, while Lipsey led the team in both assists and steals with four apiece.
Iowa’s Tavion Banks led the team with 14 points, burying a pair of triples. Both Cam Manyawu and Bennett Stirtz would each chip in ten. Manyawu had six boards, while Stirtz had four dimes to lead all Hawkeyes.
The Hawkeyes outshot the Cyclones from both the field (51-42 percent) and beyond the arc (47-33 percent). ISU, however, got to the line at will, taking 23 freebies compared to Iowa’s five to help offset the shooting splits. The ISU defense was again pesky, as the Cyclones forced 16 Hawkeye turnovers and converted them into 18 points.
How it Happened
The Cyclones jumped out to a 6-4 lead, but would see it quickly evaporate by the first media timeout as the Hawkeyes held a 10-6 advantage six minutes into the game.
Iowa would slowly increase its edge over ISU, stacking efficient offensive possessions and limiting the Cyclones at the cup. By the 7:10 mark, Iowa’s lead hit double figures as it went up by 11, 23-12.
Iowa’s lead peaked at 13 by the 3:04 mark (30-17) as the Hawkeyes had controlled momentum for the majority of the first stanza. After the under-four media timeout, though, ISU began to whittle away at the Hawkeye advantage.
The Cyclones would finish the half strong, cutting the lead to eight and going into the break down 33-25. The ISU comeback continued into the second, as the Cyclones opened up period two with 16-straight points to go up by eight, 41-33.
ISU would hold the lead for the remainder of the half, but Iowa made things interesting late, trimming the lead to one with a minute thirty left. The Cyclones would hold on, with Jefferson making some clutch free throws before Iowa turned it over on its final possession.
Key Performers
The combined effort of both Killyan Toure and Nate Heise on Hawkeye guard Bennett Stirtz cannot go unmentioned, as the two held the preseason All-American in check. The two would force three Stirtz turnovers, limiting him to 27% shooting from the floor. Toure would chip in seven points and five boards, while Heise scored three with a pair of rebounds.
Notes
With another sellout crowd, Iowa State surpassed 10,000,000 fans all-time for men’s basketball at Hilton Coliseum.
The Cyclones are 5-0 inside Hilton Coliseum as a ranked team against Iowa.
This is the fourth three-game winning streak against Iowa in program history (84-85, 09-11, 13-15, 23-25).
The Cyclones have won 39-straight non-conference games at Hilton Coliseum, the sixth-longest streak in the country and second-longest in program history.
ISU has won 10-straight games for the eighth time in program history and first since 2021.
Milan Momcilovic appeared in his 75th career game.
His two triples moved him into ninth in school history.
Momcilovic hit the 900-point mark with his 10-spot on the evening.
Eric Mulder appeared in his 100th career game.
Tamin Lipsey earned his 79th career victory, the seventh-most in school history.
Lipsey moved into 10th in school history with his 110th career start.
He moved to sixth all-time on the Big 12 career steals list as he is now up to 257.
Lipsey also moved up in the ISU record books, as he now has the seventh-most assists in school history (467).
The Hawkeyes won the rebounding battle, 31-28.
Up Next
The Cyclones will have one more game this week, as they return to Hilton Coliseum on Dec. 14 to host the Eastern Illinois Panthers. Sunday’s game is set to tip off at noon and will be streamed live on ESPN+.
Iowa returns to action Sunday, hosting Western Michigan at 2 p.m. (CT) on Mediacom Court inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
