TUCSON, Ariz. — In a thrilling finish, Caleb Love made a remarkable shot from beyond halfcourt to tie the game as time expired, leading Arizona to an 86-75 victory against No. 3 Iowa State on Monday evening. Love’s standout performance included two crucial three-pointers during overtime, culminating in him scoring a total of 22 points for the Wildcats.
The Cyclones, who now hold a record of 17-3 with a 7-2 standing in the Big 12 Conference, seemed to have the upper hand when Joshua Jefferson converted one of two free throws with just 2.2 seconds left on the clock. However, by not managing the remaining time effectively, they allowed Arizona the opportunity for a comeback. After a challenging shooting night where Love had only managed one successful 3-pointer out of ten attempts up to that moment, he dribbled a couple of times and launched a bank shot from beyond midcourt, electrifying the crowd at McKale Center.
In the overtime period, Love continued his stellar play, connecting on two corner three-pointers, while teammate Carter Bryant also contributed with another three, securing Arizona’s first victory over a top-five ranked team while being unranked since their 1979 win against No. 3 UCLA. Tobe Awaka was a strong presence for the Wildcats as well, finishing the game with a double-double of 17 points and 12 rebounds.
On the Cyclones’ side, Tamin Lipsey notched 18 points while Keshon Gilbert chipped in with another 17 points. At one point in the first half, Iowa State held a seven-point advantage, but Arizona responded with an impressive offensive surge, scoring 16 consecutive points to take a lead of 34-25. Lipsey, who was instrumental during the first half with 14 points, closed out the half with a three-pointer, pulling the Cyclones within four points at 34-30.
Takeaways from this game reveal that Iowa State has shown resilience in securing close wins in the past but struggled to recover after Love’s spectacular shot. Love demonstrated his penchant for clutch moments, transforming a poor shooting performance into a defining victory for Arizona.
A pivotal moment from the game was undoubtedly Love’s extraordinary buzzer-beater, one that fans of Arizona—possibly even Iowa State supporters—will recall vividly for years to come. Another critical aspect was Iowa State’s struggle in overtime, where they managed just one field goal from six attempts and recorded three turnovers.
Looking ahead, Iowa State will host Kansas State on Saturday, while Arizona is set to face off against their rival Arizona State.
