AMES, Iowa — Keshon Gilbert played a pivotal role in propelling No. 3 Iowa State to a commanding 83-51 victory over Omaha on Sunday, finishing with 16 points. The Cyclones, now with a record of 9-1, faced a challenging start as they exchanged leads with Omaha, hindered by eight turnovers. However, they found their rhythm, concluding the first half with an impressive 20-2 run.

Alongside Gilbert, Joshua Jefferson and Milan Momcilovic added their contributions with 13 points each, complemented by two steals. Tamin Lipsey chipped in 11 points, while Nate Heise’s bench performance yielded 10 points. The Mavericks’ Tony Osburn led his team with 13 points, followed by Isaac Ondekane who scored 12. Notably, Marquel Sutton, who had been averaging a team-high 16.2 points per game, was limited to just three points during the match.

Iowa State’s prolific offense marked a historic achievement, scoring over 80 points for the tenth consecutive game, setting a new program record. Furthermore, they extended their streak to 33 straight home wins against nonconference opponents.

In terms of insights, the Mavericks, competing in the Summit League, have now faced Top 25 teams six times, yet remain winless. For Iowa State, this game saw five players reaching double digits in scoring, although leading scorer Curtis Jones struggled with only four points. Nonetheless, he made his mark with season-best numbers in assists (six) and steals (three).

A significant turning point came with a late first-half surge where the Cyclones went on a 13-0 run, allowing them to distance themselves from Omaha after a challenging start. In terms of stats, Iowa State dominated the interior, racking up a season-high 50 points in the paint.

Looking ahead, Omaha’s next challenge will be against Cal Poly at home on Saturday evening, while Iowa State gears up to host Morgan State next Sunday.