In the Big 12 Conference tournament's second round, fifth-seeded Iowa State is set to face off against a determined 12th-seeded Arizona State on Wednesday in Kansas City, Mo. This matchup presents a prime opportunity for the Cyclones to further solidify their NCAA Tournament credentials.
Iowa State, holding a strong 25-6 record and ranked seventh in the AP Top 25, earned a second-round bye thanks to their impressive fifth-place finish in the Big 12's challenging regular season. Meanwhile, Arizona State, with a 17-15 record, is riding high after a thrilling 83-79 victory over 13th-seed Baylor on Tuesday.
The two teams recently clashed in their regular-season finale, where Iowa State showcased a balanced offensive strategy and a tenacious defense to secure an 86-65 home win. Despite trailing by four at halftime, the Cyclones dominated the second half, scoring 24 unanswered points while Arizona State struggled, enduring a 10:42 stretch without a field goal.
Arizona State, however, bounced back in their win against Baylor. Anthony "Pig" Johnson led the charge with 19 points off the bench, while the Sun Devils' supporting cast stepped up in the absence of leading scorer Maurice Odum, who was hampered by foul trouble.
Contributions came from all corners for Arizona State, with Andrija Grbovic adding 14 points, Santiago Trouet nearly achieving a double-double with 13 points and nine rebounds, Noah Meeusen scoring 12, and Massamba Diop chipping in 11.
Reflecting on their performance, Arizona State coach Bobby Hurley praised his team's resilience, especially given Odum's limited impact in the first half. "It's a testament to the guys coming along, different guys helping us," Hurley noted. He commended his team's preparation and response following their previous loss to Iowa State.
For Iowa State, Saturday's victory over Arizona State has set a positive tone heading into the tournament. Key performances came from Tamin Lipsey, Milan Momcilovic, and Joshua Jefferson, each scoring 16 points, with Jamarion Bateman and Dominykas Pleta adding 13 and 11 points respectively.
Momcilovic leads the Cyclones, averaging 17.0 points per game, with Jefferson and Lipsey contributing 16.6 and 13.3 points respectively. Coach T.J. Otzelberger is confident in his team's ability to rise to the occasion, citing their consistency and success against formidable opponents throughout the season.
The Cyclones began the season with a remarkable 16-game winning streak, including victories over St. John's, Big Ten heavyweight Purdue, and back-to-back home wins against then-No.
9 Kansas and then-No. 2 Houston.
"Those were all really well-played games," Otzelberger said, emphasizing the confidence these wins instill as they enter the high-stakes tournament environment.