**Kansas City, Mo. ** - In a nail-biting finish on Friday night, Iowa State's senior point guard, Tamin Lipsey, faced a moment that felt all too familiar.
With just minutes left on the clock, Lipsey had to step off the court, appearing to aggravate a nagging groin injury. This injury first reared its head during last season’s Big 12 Tournament loss to BYU, and it seemed to resurface at the worst possible time.
However, Lipsey, embodying the resilience of a seasoned senior, wasn't about to let this setback keep him down. After a quick stretch during a timeout, he was back in action.
Reflecting on the incident, Lipsey said, "Yeah, just groin. Tweaked it.
Wasn't as bad as Vegas, so, obviously, was able to go back on the court, continue playing, finish the game." He acknowledged the need for ongoing care but remained optimistic about his ability to keep playing.
With just under three minutes to go, Lipsey proved his mettle by delivering a crucial assist and then tying the game at 80 with a clutch three-pointer, leaving only 15 seconds on the clock. Unfortunately, he could only watch as Jaden Bradley sealed the game for Arizona with a buzzer-beater, handing Iowa State a narrow 82-80 defeat.
Lipsey admitted that thoughts of last year's injury crossed his mind, saying, "Naturally, with last year, and my history with injuries and stuff. But I could tell it wasn't anything too bad, but something that, for sure, I'll have to watch."
Despite the loss, Iowa State heads back to Ames with their eyes on the NCAA Tournament. The Cyclones are expected to secure a No. 2 or No. 3 seed, a testament to their strong performance this season.
Head coach T.J. Otzelberger is confident, believing the team is on an upward trajectory as they approach the tournament.
Lipsey, while not entirely satisfied with the Big 12 Tournament outcome, found a silver lining. "I wouldn't say successful, not for our standards," he noted, before adding, "At the end of the day, we're coming back to Ames healthy and everybody is going to be able to play, which is a positive considering last year all the injuries and stuff in the postseason."
As the Cyclones gear up for Selection Sunday, there's a sense of cautious optimism in the air. With Lipsey's determination and the team's overall health, Iowa State fans have plenty to look forward to in the coming weeks.