Iowa State Cyclones

Cyclones Second Half Avalanche Saves Senior Day Against Sun Devils

Senior Day at Hilton Coliseum was a successful one for the Iowa State Cyclones against the Arizona State Sun Devils.
Kenneth Teape|
Mar 7, 2026; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Tamin Lipsey (3) goes to the basket as Arizona State Sun Devils forward Andrija Grbovic (14) defends during the first half at James H. Hilton Coliseum.
Mar 7, 2026; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Tamin Lipsey (3) goes to the basket as Arizona State Sun Devils forward Andrija Grbovic (14) defends during the first half at James H. Hilton Coliseum. | Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

In this story:

Iowa State CyclonesArizona State Sun Devils

The Iowa State Cyclones entered their regular-season finale against the Arizona State Sun Devils riding a two-game losing streak.

Losses against the Texas Tech Red Raiders and Arizona Wildcats preceded their matchup with Arizona State. The Sun Devils entered the game riding high after defeating the Kansas Jayhawks in their last matchup.

However, with it being Senior Day, the Cyclones had a little extra pep in their step. After a brutal first half, which saw Arizona State take a 41-37 lead into the locker room, Iowa State flipped a switch.

They put together an incredibly dominant second half, which featured arguably their best stretch of basketball this season. With 17:03 remaining, Massamba Diop made a 15-foot jump shot to give the Sun Devils a 45-41 lead.

Iowa State uses dominant second half to blow out Arizona State

Iowa State Cyclones guard Killyan Toure going for layup.
Mar 7, 2026; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Killyan Toure (27) goes to the basket against the Arizona State Sun Devils during the first half at James H. Hilton Coliseum. | Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

It would be the last time Arizona State scored for a while, with the Cyclones going on a remarkable run to wrestle control of the game away. They went on a 24-0 run, turning what was a close game into a blowout.

The Sun Devils didn’t make another basket until Andrija Grbovic knocked down a 3-pointer with 6:21 remaining. That was nearly 11 game minutes without a basket, with their only points being three free throws during that span.

Throughout T.J.Otzelberger's tenure as head coach, the team has played defense at a high level. That happened against Arizona State, which was forced into 23 total turnovers. Iowa State took full advantage, scoring 29 points off those miscues.

It was one of the biggest differences in the game, with the Cyclones’ nine turnovers being turned into only eight points.

The dominant second half that helped Iowa State to its 25th victory of the campaign. This is only the eighth time in the men’s basketball program history that they have reached the 25-win threshold.

This was a perfect sendoff for the seniors on the Cyclones, Tamin Lipsey, Nate Heise, Joshua Jefferson, Eric Mulder and Dominick Nelson, who played their final game at Hilton Coliseum of their careers.

Lipsey was excellent, scoring 16 points with six assists, two rebounds and six steals. Jefferson got things back on track with 16 points, seven rebounds, three assists, two steals and one block.

Next up for Iowa State is the 2026 Big 12 Tournament. They have guaranteed themselves a top-five seed with the win, but a double-bye likely won’t be obtained.

But, on a positive note, there is still a chance they can earn a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament after the UConn Huskies suffered a loss to the Marquette Golden Eagles, likely knocking them back down to a two-seed.

Loading recommendations... Please wait while we load personalized content recommendations

Published
Kenneth Teape
KENNETH TEAPE

Kenneth Teape is an alumnus of SUNY Old Westbury and graduated in 2013 with an Honors Degree in Media Communications with a focus on print journalism. During his time at Old Westbury, he worked for the school newspaper and several online publications, such as Knicks Now, the official website of the New York Knicks, and a self-made website with fellow students, Gotham City Sports News. Kenneth has also been a site expert at Empire Writes Back, Musket Fire, and Lake Show Life within the FanSided Network. He was a contributor to HoopsHabit, with work featured on Bleacher Report and Yardbarker. In addition to his work here, he is a reporter for both NBA Analysis Network and NFL Analysis Network, as well as a writer and editor for Packers Coverage. You can follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @teapester725, or reach him via email at teapester725@gmail.com.

Home/Basketball