AMES, Iowa — Curtis Jones shined in his second start of the season, scoring 25 points and leading No. 2 Iowa State to a 74-57 victory over No. 9 Kansas on Wednesday night. This win marks the Cyclones’ 12th consecutive victory of the season.
The Cyclones, with a record of 15-1 and 5-0 in Big 12 play, came into the game ranked higher than they have ever been in the program’s history. However, the team was without one of its key players, forward Milan Momcilovic, who is sidelined indefinitely due to an injury to his left hand.
Jones, who previously delivered a season-high performance with 26 points off the bench against Texas Tech, seamlessly transitioned to the starting role. He began the game impressively, hitting his first six shots and finishing with an impressive 5-for-6 from beyond the arc.
Dishon Jackson also stepped up, matching his season-high with 17 points in his first bench appearance of the season. Additionally, Joshua Jefferson contributed significantly, achieving his sixth double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds.
Iowa State’s head coach, T.J. Otzelberger, celebrated his 12th victory against a top-10 team, equaling the record set by Johnny Orr for the most wins in this category in Cyclones’ history. Otzelberger is currently in his fourth season, while Orr coached the team for 14 years.
For Kansas, Zeke Mayo led the scoring with 17 points, while Dajuan Harris Jr. added eight to the team’s total.
In terms of game insights, Kansas struggled with 17 turnovers and was edged in rebounding, with the Cyclones pulling down 43 boards compared to their 33. This defeat marked Kansas’ first loss on the road in Big 12 competition.
Iowa State continues to dominate, having defeated Kansas three times in a row at home and extending their home court win streak to an impressive 28 games.
A pivotal moment in the game occurred when the Jayhawks managed to reduce a 12-point deficit to just five points late in the match. However, their momentum took a hit when they failed to secure the rebound on Jefferson’s missed free throw. This opened the door for Tamin Lipsey, who sank a 3-pointer from the wing, pushing the Cyclones ahead 61-52 with just over four minutes left on the clock.
One noteworthy statistic from the evening is that while Jones scored 20 points in the first half, he remained scoreless for more than 18 minutes during the second half.
Looking ahead, Iowa State is scheduled to visit West Virginia on Saturday, while Kansas will be hosting Kansas State on the same day.
