Iowa State Eyes Alcorn State Matchup as Tamin Lipsey Remains Sidelined
Iowa State has been rolling early this season, and they’ve done it with and without their floor general. But when the Cyclones take the court Wednesday night in Ames against struggling Alcorn State, they’ll likely be without standout point guard Tamin Lipsey for a third straight game.
Lipsey, who’s been nursing a groin injury, has been a catalyst for the Cyclones’ 7-0 start. Through five games, he was averaging 18.4 points, 5.2 assists, and 3.2 steals while shooting over 50% from the field - and doing it with remarkable efficiency, turning the ball over just four times all season. That’s not just production - that’s control, tempo, and leadership all rolled into one.
But with a heavyweight matchup looming this weekend against No. 1 Purdue, Iowa State is playing it smart.
Head coach T.J. Otzelberger made it clear: Lipsey’s long-term health is the priority.
“He deserves the right to be healthy,” Otzelberger said. “He’ll gut it out and he’s tough and he’s shown that over time, but we want him to be back when he can be back playing the way he was playing at such a high level prior to the injury.”
And while Lipsey’s absence is certainly felt, the Cyclones haven’t missed a beat.
In fact, their performance at the Players Era men’s tournament in Las Vegas was a showcase of depth and resilience. Iowa State edged then-No.
14 St. John’s 83-82 with Lipsey in the lineup, then rolled through Creighton (78-60) and Syracuse (95-64) without him.
That’s not just surviving - that’s thriving.
Freshman guard Killyan Toure stepped up in a big way, pouring in 20 points against Creighton and following it up with 19 more against Syracuse. That kind of poise from a young player in a national spotlight? That bodes well for Iowa State’s backcourt depth.
Then there’s Milan Momcilovic, who’s turning into one of the most dangerous shooters in the country. He knocked down six threes and dropped 24 points against Syracuse, pushing his season average to 16.9 points per game. Already with three games of five or more threes, Momcilovic is quickly becoming the Cyclones’ go-to perimeter threat.
“He's got a tremendous amount of confidence,” Otzelberger said. “His teammates are looking for him, which is great.”
And let’s not overlook Joshua Jefferson, who’s quietly putting together one of the most well-rounded stat lines in the Big 12. In Vegas, he averaged 16 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists across the three games - including a near triple-double with 13 points, 10 assists, and six boards against Syracuse. On the season, he leads the team with 7.9 rebounds per game and is second in scoring at 17.6 points.
“Our standard’s always been high for ourselves,” Jefferson said. “We do hard stuff, you know? We're gonna go out there and try to win every game that we can.”
That mindset will serve them well against an Alcorn State squad that’s been through the wringer. At 1-8, the Braves have faced one of the most brutal non-conference schedules in the country. Six of their eight losses have come on the road - all by at least 19 points - including lopsided defeats to Minnesota (by 45), Florida State (32), LSU (26), Louisiana Tech (25), Maryland (20), and Oklahoma (19).
First-year head coach Jake Morton acknowledged the uphill battle.
“I've been told by many that we have one of the toughest non-conference schedules in the country, which is real challenging for me and our staff and our players,” Morton said after the team’s 108-76 loss to Florida State.
The Braves did notch their first win last Friday, an 81-74 victory over Indiana State at a four-team event hosted by Louisiana Tech. But they followed that up with an 83-58 loss to the hosts, with Tycen McDaniels leading the way with 11 points.
Shane Lancaster has been a bright spot for Alcorn State, averaging a team-best 10.9 points per game while shooting a scorching 52.9% from deep (18-for-34). McDaniels and Davian Williams are both averaging 9.4 points, with Williams also leading the team in rebounding (4.4 per game). Jameel Morris adds another 9.0 points per contest.
For Iowa State, Wednesday’s game is about staying sharp, staying healthy, and continuing to build momentum heading into Saturday’s showdown with Purdue. Lipsey’s status will remain a storyline, but the Cyclones have already shown they’re more than just a one-man show.
This team has depth, confidence, and a clear identity - and that makes them dangerous, no matter who’s on the floor.