AMES, Iowa — Keshon Gilbert led Iowa State with 17 points, while Tamin Lipsey contributed 16, as the No. 5 Cyclones dominated Mississippi Valley State with an impressive 83-44 victory on Monday night, marking their 28th consecutive win at home.
Joshua Jefferson, a transfer from Saint Mary’s, made his debut with the Cyclones, adding 10 points, six rebounds, and four steals to the team’s effort. For the Delta Devils, Donovan Sanders scored 12 points and Greg Moore chipped in 10. Last season, Mississippi Valley State struggled, winning only one game, and they are projected to finish at the bottom of the Southwestern Athletic Conference.
The first half saw Iowa State take a commanding 44-21 lead, and in the final five minutes, they extended the margin to as much as 42 points. The Cyclones overwhelmed the Delta Devils defensively, finishing the game with 16 steals, with both Lipsey and Gilbert recording three steals each. With this performance, Lipsey climbed into eighth place on Iowa State’s all-time steals list, amassing 172 steals throughout his 70 games played.
Observations from the game revealed that Mississippi Valley State started strong, staying competitive for the first 12 minutes. However, they faltered after allowing a 15-0 run that left them trailing 40-15. For Iowa State, the key contributors from last year’s Sweet 16 team performed admirably, while newcomers like Jefferson and freshman Nojus Indrusaitis, who tallied eight points in 16 minutes, made significant impacts in their first appearances.
A pivotal moment came when Jefferson hit back-to-back jumpers, followed by an emphatic dunk from Indrusaitis, which sparked a crucial scoring run for the Cyclones midway through the first half. Furthermore, Iowa State capitalized on turnovers, scoring 26 points off the 24 turnovers committed by the Delta Devils, who struggled with ball control, averaging a turnover on one of every three possessions.
Looking ahead, Iowa State will host Kansas City next Monday, while Mississippi Valley State is scheduled to take on the Mississippi University for Women on Thursday night.