Iowa State Survives Late Baylor Rally, Holds On for 72-69 Win in Big 12 Battle
For 37 minutes, No. 7 Iowa State looked every bit the Big 12 contender they’ve been all season-physical, composed, and in control.
But the final few minutes? That was a different story.
Despite going scoreless over the final 2:12 and watching Baylor rip off an 11-0 run in the last 1:45, the Cyclones managed to hang on for a gritty 72-69 win on Saturday.
This one was a test of nerves, and Iowa State passed-barely.
The Cyclones led for over 30 minutes of game time, built a cushion as large as 15 points late in the second half, and dominated the glass with a 37-25 rebounding edge. But when the offense went cold and Baylor caught fire from deep, what looked like a comfortable win turned into a frantic finish.
Let’s start with the difference-maker: Tamin Lipsey.
The senior guard and Ames native didn’t light up the scoreboard, but he was everywhere else-pulling down a game-high nine rebounds, including four offensive boards that gave Iowa State crucial second chances. His energy set the tone, and his hustle plays were the kind that don’t always show up in the box score but make all the difference.
“Tamin today was just phenomenal,” said head coach T.J. Otzelberger postgame.
“He was all over the place… he’s such a winner. He’s so tough, so competitive.
He cares so much about his teammates, this program, this community, this university… it’s great to see, and I’m so proud of him.”
That kind of leadership is exactly what you need in a game like this.
Offensively, Milan Momcilovic led the way with 21 points on an efficient 6-of-11 shooting, and he was automatic at the line, going 7-for-7. Joshua Jefferson added 15 points, five rebounds, and four assists, doing a little bit of everything. Nate Heise chipped in eight points, including two key threes that helped stretch the defense.
Iowa State found its rhythm in the paint, especially in the second half, where they scored 24 points inside-matching Baylor’s total for the entire game. That physicality, combined with strong rebounding, gave the Cyclones the edge they needed, even as the offense sputtered late.
And sputter it did.
After building that 15-point lead with just over three minutes to play, Iowa State went ice cold. Baylor, meanwhile, caught fire behind the arc-finishing with 11 threes on the day.
Cameron Carr was the engine of the comeback, drilling five triples en route to a game-high 24 points. His back-to-back threes in the first half also erased an early Iowa State lead and kept Baylor within striking distance all game long.
Freshman Tounde Yessoufou added two threes of his own, including one that gave Baylor its largest lead of the game, 27-24, midway through the first half. But despite those surges, Baylor couldn’t quite close the gap.
James Nnaji, the 31st pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, had a quiet outing-zero points and three rebounds in nine minutes off the bench.
For Iowa State, the formula was simple but effective: crash the boards, defend the paint, and take care of business at the free throw line. They shot 50% from the field (27-of-50) and capitalized on Baylor’s mistakes, turning turnovers into 10 first-half points.
Even when the offense stalled late, the Cyclones executed when it mattered most-sealing the win with a clean inbounds pass in the final seconds to avoid a potential disaster.
It wasn’t pretty, but it was gritty. And in the Big 12, that’s often what it takes.
Now 21-2 overall and 8-2 in conference play, Iowa State continues to prove they’re built not just to win, but to survive the chaos that comes with Big 12 basketball.