AMES, Iowa — In an exciting matchup on Wednesday night, No. 6 Iowa State outperformed No. 5 Marquette with a final score of 81-70. Keshon Gilbert was instrumental in the Cyclones’ victory, tying his season best by scoring 24 points. Despite suffering a nose injury in the latter part of the game, Gilbert made a quick comeback to assist his team in clinching the win.

Contributing to the Cyclones’ success, Joshua Jefferson recorded an impressive double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds, marking his second of the season. Curtis Jones added another 14 points, maintaining his streak of double-digit scoring for six consecutive games as a key bench player. Dishon Jackson also made a notable impact with 11 points, seven rebounds, and two blocks.

On the flip side, Royce Parham led Marquette’s scoring effort with 17 points, while Kam Jones struggled with his shooting, managing just 14 points on 6-of-21 shooting from the field. Stevie Mitchell and Demarius Owens contributed with 13 and 11 points respectively for the Golden Eagles.

A pivotal moment in the game came in the second half when the Cyclones launched a 14-0 run, which effectively gave them control and set the stage for their victory. Marquette fought to stay competitive in the second half but ultimately could not maintain their unbeaten record.

Notably, Tamin Lipsey experienced a challenging game, remaining scoreless through his first 28 minutes of play, failing to make any of his four attempted shots. His only point came late in the game following a flagrant foul committed by Demarius Owens.

Looking ahead, Iowa State will host Jackson State on Sunday, while Marquette is set to face No. 11 Wisconsin on Saturday. This matchup has significant implications as both teams aim to continue their progress in the season.