In a thrilling showdown at the Big 12 tournament, Tamin Lipsey led the charge with 20 points, propelling fifth-seeded Iowa State to a commanding 75-53 victory over fourth-seeded Texas Tech in Kansas City. This win advances the Cyclones to the semifinals, where they'll face either top-seeded Arizona or eighth-seeded UCF.
Joshua Jefferson was a force to be reckoned with, contributing 18 points, 13 rebounds, and six assists. His performance was instrumental in helping the Cyclones overcome an early 12-point deficit. Dominykas Pleta added depth off the bench with 11 points, as Iowa State (27-6) delivered their second impressive performance in as many days.
Texas Tech, ranked No. 16, struggled to find their rhythm without star big man J.T. Toppin, who is sidelined with a season-ending ACL injury. LeJuan Watts and Christian Anderson tried to pick up the slack, scoring 12 and 10 points respectively, but the Red Raiders (22-10) ultimately fell short.
Iowa State's tournament journey has been nothing short of dominant, winning their two games by a combined 71 points. They set a Big 12 tournament record with a 49-point victory over Arizona State earlier.
The Cyclones shot an impressive 53.6% from the field, including 7 of 18 from beyond the arc, and held a 39-29 edge in rebounds. Meanwhile, Texas Tech shot just 33.9% and struggled from the 3-point line, hitting only 9 of 29 attempts.
The second half saw Iowa State pull away decisively. They shot a scorching 65.2% from the field, while Texas Tech managed only 22.2%. A pivotal 21-4 run, highlighted by nine consecutive made shots, allowed the Cyclones to extend their lead to 22 points.
Milan Momcilovic sparked the run with a three-pointer, followed by key contributions from Jefferson and Lipsey. Jamarion Batemon and Lipsey each knocked down 3-pointers, pushing the lead to 20 points with just over 10 minutes remaining.
Even as Texas Tech attempted a rally, Lipsey's trey and Pleta's fastbreak dunk kept the Cyclones comfortably ahead, extending the margin to 24 points with under three minutes to go.
The Red Raiders had started strong, racing to a 17-5 lead early in the game. However, Iowa State responded with a 15-2 run, capped by Lipsey's three-pointer that gave them a 20-19 lead. Batemon's buzzer-beating three-pointer ensured a 36-33 advantage for Iowa State at halftime.
Lipsey's 10 first-half points set the tone for the Cyclones, while Watts and Anderson kept Texas Tech within striking distance. Ultimately, Iowa State's balanced attack and defensive prowess proved too much for the Red Raiders to handle.