The Iowa State Cyclones didn’t just make noise during Feast Week at the Players Era Festival - they sent a message. Even after losing starting point guard Tamin Lipsey late in their opener against St.
John’s, the Cyclones didn’t blink. They rallied for a heart-pounding 83-82 win, then turned up the heat in Las Vegas with back-to-back blowouts over Creighton and Syracuse.
Let’s break that down: no Lipsey, no problem. Iowa State followed up their nail-biter against St.
John’s by dismantling Creighton 78-60. Then they absolutely overwhelmed Syracuse, 95-64 - a game that was tied at halftime before the Cyclones unleashed a second-half blitz.
That’s a 31-point win against a Power Five opponent, on a neutral floor, without your floor general. That’s not just depth - that’s dominance.
Now sitting at 7-0, Iowa State has earned the “contender” label from The Field of 68 for Week 4 - and rightfully so. But the real test is coming fast.
On December 6, the Cyclones head to West Lafayette to face top-ranked Purdue, a heavyweight matchup that could tell us just how high this team’s ceiling really is. It’s the first leg of a home-and-home series, with the Boilermakers set to return the favor next season at Hilton Coliseum.
Circle that one.
But while the team as a whole has impressed, the breakout story of the festival was freshman guard Killyan Toure. Named “Freshman of the Week” for his performance in Vegas, Toure didn’t just fill in for Lipsey - he thrived. The French freshman, who cracked the starting lineup on opening night, looked every bit the part of a future star.
Toure’s numbers over the three-game stretch were eye-popping: 45 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists, 5 steals, and a block in 83 minutes. He shot 63% from the field, 43% from three, and posted an effective field goal percentage of 68.5%.
🏆 Week Four Superlatives 🏆
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) December 1, 2025
Team of the Week: @umichbball
Coach of the Week: @KUHoops’ Bill Self
Player of the Week: @TCUBasketball’s Brock Harding pic.twitter.com/ubLe0RN0dY
That’s elite efficiency, especially for a freshman thrust into a bigger role on a big stage. Just as impressive?
He turned the ball over only six times and committed just seven fouls across three games - a testament to his poise and discipline on both ends of the floor.
What stands out most about Toure isn’t just the box score, though. It’s the way he carries himself - calm, confident, and unshaken by the moment.
That kind of maturity is rare in a first-year player, and it gives head coach T.J. Otzelberger a luxury most programs don’t have: the ability to ease Lipsey back into action without rushing.
With Toure holding down the backcourt, Iowa State can play the long game.
There’s still a long season ahead, and the road gets steeper from here - starting with that showdown at Purdue. But if the Cyclones’ performance in Vegas is any indication, this team has the toughness, talent, and depth to hang with anyone. And with Toure emerging as a legitimate difference-maker, Iowa State might not just be a contender for now - they could be building something even bigger for the months ahead.