Iowa St. pulls away to oust Wazzu, advance to Sweet 16

Field Level Media|published: Sat 23rd March, 20:36 2024

Iowa State Cyclones guard Tamin Lipsey (3) shoots the ball in a second-round NCAA Tournament game between Iowa State and Washington State, Saturday, March 23, 2024 at CHI Health Center Arena in Omaha. credits: Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK

Tamin Lipsey scored 15 points and Iowa State reached the Sweet 16 for the second time in three seasons with a 67-56 victory over Washington State on Saturday in East Region second-round play at Omaha, Neb.

Curtis Jones added 14 points for the second-seeded Cyclones (29-7), who won for the ninth time in their past 10 games. Keshon Gilbert and Milan Momcilovic added 10 points apiece for Iowa State.

Jaylen Wells scored 20 points for seventh-seeded Washington State (25-10). Myles Rice added 13 points for the Cougars.

The Cyclones will face either No. 3 Illinois or No. 11 Duquesne in the Sweet 16.

Iowa State outscored Washington State 40-29 in the second half after a sluggish start to the game.

The Cyclones shot 40.4 percent from the field, including 7 of 14 from 3-point range. Iowa State had a 21-4 edge in points off turnovers.

Washington State connected on 43.1 percent of its shots and was a shaky 5 of 23 from behind the arc.

Iowa State scored the first six points of the second half with Tre King's layup giving the Cyclones a 33-27 lead.

The Cougars answered with an 8-3 run to move within 36-35 on a jumper by Rice with 13:47 remaining.

Iowa State then scored nine of the next 11 points. Lipsey, Jones and Momcilovic all made treys as the Cyclones led 45-37 with 11:26 left.

Momcilovic knocked down another trey to give Iowa State a 51-44 lead with eight minutes remaining. A short time later, Lipsey drained a 3-pointer and King hit a jumper to make it 56-46 with 6:48 left to play.

Robert Jones' dunk with 26.8 seconds made it a 14-point margin as the Cyclones closed it out.

Wells had 16 first-half points and the Cougars led most of the way before heading into the break in a tie at 27.

Iowa State missed its first nine shots and 13 of 14 over the first eight-plus minutes as Washington State took an 11-4 lead. Yet the Cyclones soon went on an 11-2 run and took a 17-16 lead on two free throws by Gilbert with 5:36 left in the half.

The Cougars held a 25-19 advantage after Wells' jumper with three minutes left before Iowa State closed the half with an 8-2 run.

—Field Level Media