AMES, Iowa — In an impressive performance, backup guard Curtis Jones delivered a stellar game, sinking all 12 of his free throws and accumulating 22 points, leading No. 10 Iowa State to a 81-70 victory over Cincinnati on Saturday. This win marks Iowa State’s 20th triumph of the season.
Joshua Jefferson contributed significantly with 13 points and three steals for the Cyclones (20-5, 10-4 Big 12), while Milan Momcilovic added 12 points. Tamin Lipsey also made his mark by scoring 11 points, making a perfect 3-for-3 from the field, including two successful 3-pointers, in addition to securing four steals.
For the Bearcats (15-10, 5-9), Jizzle James equaled his career-best performance by scoring 25 points, with Day Day Thomas assisting the team by adding 13 points.
When reflecting on the game, it was evident that Cincinnati faced considerable challenges, particularly with respect to foul issues. The Bearcats were whistled for a total of 23 personal fouls, alongside three technical fouls, resulting in two players fouling out during the match.
On the opposing side, Iowa State had a dominant rebounding performance, outpacing Cincinnati 37-19, with a notable 12 offensive rebounds. Furthermore, the Cyclones restricted the Bearcats to their lowest rebounding count of the season.
The pivotal moment of the game came when Iowa State orchestrated a 10-point run in the second half, which enabled them to reclaim the lead.
One key statistic to note is that Iowa State was able to triumph despite committing a season-high 18 turnovers throughout the game.
Looking ahead, Iowa State will host Colorado on Tuesday night, while Cincinnati is scheduled to visit West Virginia on Wednesday night.
