Iowa State basketball rolls into Big 12 Tournament semifinals with win over Kansas State

KANSAS CITY – Iowa State left its game on Saturday knowing it played one of its poorer games of the season.  

Just over a hundred miles away and against the same team, the Cyclones looked markedly better. 

No. 8 Iowa State men’s basketball advanced to the semifinals of the Big 12 Tournament with a 76-57 victory over Kansas State on Thursday at the T-Mobile Center. 

The win avenged Saturday’s 65-58 loss to the Wildcats (19-14) in which the Cyclones (25-7) coughed up an early lead and saw lingering offensive issues reach a nadir. 

It was a much different story Thursday as the Cyclones shot 46.3 percent from the field and committed just six turnovers. 

Robert Jones had 18 points and Tamin Lipsey added 16 for the Cyclones. Keshon Gilbert tied an Iowa State conference tournament record with six steals. Tre King had 16 points and nine boards.

The performance certainly will put aside some anxiety of a late-season swoon for the Cyclones, who, despite winning five of its last six, showed signs of wear down the stretch. It wasn’t a cure-all (Iowa State was 1-of-14 from 3-point range), certainly, but a step in the right direction.  

It also gives Iowa State the season series win against Kansas State after the two teams split their two regular-season games. There may be an extra dose of sweetness in the victory for the Cyclones after Kansas State made controversial spying accusations in their January loss at Hilton Coliseum. 

The Cyclones will now try to reach their first Big 12 Tournament championship game since 2019, when they won the event for the fourth time in six seasons. 

Demarion Watson out with injury 

Iowa State was without key reserve Demarion Watson, who missed the game while in the concussion protocol. 

Watson did not play during the second half of Saturday’s game at Kansas State after taking a blow to the head. He was in uniform Thursday night, but was not available to play. 

It is unclear if Watson could be cleared in time for Friday’s semifinal matchup. 

In Watson’s absence, rarely used McDonald’s All-American Omaha Biliew played for the first time since Jan. 24. The Waukee product had two points and a rebound in seven minutes. 

Up next 

The Cyclones will play in the Big 12 Tournament semifinals for the second straight year, and they will face either Baylor or Cincinnati. 

The Bears and Bearcats were scheduled to play at 8:30 p.m. Thursday. 

Iowa State, the 2 seed, lost its lone matchup with 3-seeded Baylor. The Cyclones nearly won that game in Waco, however, with Milan Momcilovic’s half-court shot being waved off after he banked it in. Video review showed he did not release the shot before the clock expired. 

The Cyclones won in Cincinnati in February, the only matchup between the two schools. Four Iowa State players scored in double figures that night. 

Tipoff for the semifinals Friday will come at approximately 8:30 for Iowa State after Houston and Texas Tech play in the first semifinal matchup at 6 p.m. 

Travis Hines covers Iowa State University sports for the Des Moines Register and Ames Tribune. Contact him at thines@amestrib.com or  (515) 284-8000. Follow him at @TravisHines21.