Iowa State Cyclones

Final stats, analysis: No. 8 Iowa State handles Colorado, sets sights on Houston

Cyclones improve to 3-0 on year vs. Buffaloes ahead of Saturday showdown with Cougars
Dana Becker|
Iowa State returns to action on Tuesday night, hosting Colorado in Big 12 Conference play.
Iowa State returns to action on Tuesday night, hosting Colorado in Big 12 Conference play. | Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Since Milan Momcilovic returned to the lineup, the eighth-ranked Iowa State men have looked like the team we saw before his injury.

The Cyclones seek a fourth consecutive win when they host Colorado Tuesday night live on ESPN+. Iowa State earned a win earlier this year over the Buffaloes in Boulder. 

The ESPN BPI gives the Cyclones a 94 percent chance to win.

Check out our live updates and in-game analysis of Iowa State vs. Colorado below:

(Refresh for the latest updates)

Final Stats, Analysis

From the opening tip, this one was in the bag for the Cyclones, as there was no looking ahead to Houston this Saturday. Instead, Iowa State focused on improving to 3-0 against Colorado this year, and did so with a balanced offensive attack. 

Four starters reached double figres led by 13 from Milan Momcilovic and Dishon Jackson. Both Joshua Jefferson and Tamin Lipsey added 12 with Nate Heise contributing 11 off the bench. Leading scorer Curtis Jones was held to seven but wasn’t needed.

Jefferson added seven rebounds, four assists and two steals, sinking both of his 3-point attempts. Lipsey had five rebounds, three assists and two steals while Keshon Gilbert recorded five points, five assists and three steals. 

The Cyclones were 10 of 21 from the 3-point line, 21-for-31 from the free throw stripe and shot 51 percent from the field. They finished with 19 assists on 24 made field goals.

Colorado got 20 points out of Bangot Dak with Harrison Carrington adding 11 off the bench.

Final score: Iowa State 79, Colorado 65

Live Second Half Updates

Lipsey is so special! Ames native Tamin Lipsey continues to have a super season, as he has contributed 12 points with four rebounds, three assists and two steals tonight. Lipsey has buried a pair of 3-pointers and committed just one turnover as Iowa State leads Colorado, 74-53.

Looking good ahead of showdown! The Cyclones are well on their way to another win as they prepare for Houston this Saturday. Iowa State holds a 65-48 lead on Colorado with just over six to play. The Cyclones have 17 assists on 20 made field goals, are 9 of 18 from the 3-point line and hold a plus-6 edge on the glass.

Iowa State 65, Colorado 42, 8:36 left in second: The Cyclones have put this one on auto-pilot, holding a 23-point cushion. Jackson leads three players in double figures with 13 while Keshon Gilbert has five assists. A full stat-line for Tamin Lipsey with seven points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals. 

Iowa State 55, Colorado 34, 13:01 left in second: This one remains all Cyclones, as they are well on their way to victory No. 21 on the season and a three-game sweep of the Buffaloes on the year. Three players are in double figures as Iowa State is still shooting 50 percent from the field, 50 percent from deep and 76 percent at the charity stripe.

Iowa State gets to 50! The Cyclones are well on their way to another high-scoring game, sinking six triples while shooting 52 percent from the field. They hold an 18-point lead on Colorado. 

Iowa State 47, Colorado 30, 17:46 left in second: Dishon Jackson has been active in getting to the foul line, going 7 of 9 as part of a 15-for-19 performance so far by the Cyclones. Jackson has 11.

Halftime Stats, Analysis

This has been one of the better opening halves of basketball by the Cyclones in recent games. Several players are getting involved and the defensive pressure has been strong against the ball. Colorado will need to really do something different here in the second half to make a game out of this one.

For Iowa State, Milan Momcilovic has a game-high 10 points as all eight players who have seen the court have scored. Brandton Chatfield, Curtis Jones and Nate Heise have a combined 14 off the bench with six rebounds, as Dishon Jackson has nine points. 

The Buffaloes are led by Bangot Dak’s eight, as the are just 1 of 9 from the 3-point line.

Halftime score: Iowa State 45, Colorado 28

Live First Half Updates

Iowa State 37, Colorado 20, 3:20 left in half: In this third meeting between the two, as they also met at the Maui Invitational earlier this year, the Cyclones have dominated. Iowa State is imposing its will on defense and doing whatever it wants on the offensive end of the floor.

Iowa State 35, Colorado 18, 4:21 left in half: The Buffaloes have had no answer for the Cyclones so far, as Iowa State is dominating in all areas. Momcilovic leads the way with seven, as he has been getting to the line early and often. Cyclones have hit five 3-pointers so far.

Iowa State 25, Colorado 13, 7:35 left in first: It remains all Cyclones here early, as they are having no trouble with the Buffaloes, who are just 4 of 11 from the field. Momcilovic, Jackson and Heise all have five for Iowa State.

All Cyclones! This one is turning into a route early, as Milan Momcilovic and Nate Heise each have five to spark Iowa State on this cold winter night in Ames. The temperature might be below-zero outside, but the Cyclones are red-hot inside a loud Hilton Coliseum.

Iowa State 15, Colorado 5, 13:17 left in first: The Cyclones have been able to control the tempo on both sides while executing well on the offensive end. They are 5 of 7 from the field with five different players having scored.

Iowa State 7, Colorado 2, 15:58 left in first: The Cyclones have went to the bench early in this one, building a five-point cushion. Brandton Chatfield and Nate Heise with four points and two rebounds as Keshon Gilbert has a three.

Live Pregame Updates

Colorado got back on track with a 13-point win over UCF last time out, having lost to the likes of Kansas, Houston and Utah before that. That was their first win in Big 12 Conference play this year. 

Iowa State has handled TCU, UCF and Cincinnati since three straight losses. 

Published | Modified
Dana Becker
DANA BECKER

Dana Becker has been a sports writer in Iowa since 2000, writing for The Fort Dodge Messenger, Mason City Globe-Gazette, Cedar Rapids Gazette and others. Dana resides in north-central Iowa.

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