AMES, Iowa — In a solid performance, backup guard Curtis Jones drained all 12 of his free throw attempts and contributed 22 points to propel No. 10 Iowa State to an 81-70 victory against Cincinnati on Saturday, marking the team’s 20th win of the season.
Joshua Jefferson played a significant role as well, contributing 13 points and recording three steals for the Cyclones (20-5, 10-4 Big 12). Other key players included Milan Momcilovic with 12 points and Tamin Lipsey, who added 11, hitting all three of his shots—two of which were from beyond the arc—and also collecting four steals.
On the opposing side, Jizzle James tallied 25 points for the Bearcats (15-10, 5-9), equaling his personal best, while Day Day Thomas chipped in with 13 points.
Several issues plagued Cincinnati during the game; they had difficulty maintaining their composure as they amassed 23 personal fouls, along with three technical fouls, leading to two players fouling out.
Conversely, Iowa State showcased their dominance on the boards, out-rebounding Cincinnati 37-19, which included 12 offensive rebounds, marking the Bearcats’ lowest rebounding total for the current season.
A pivotal moment came for Iowa State with a significant 10-point run in the middle of the second half, allowing them to reclaim the lead in what had been a competitive game.
A noteworthy statistic of the match was Iowa State’s ability to bounce back despite committing a season-high 18 turnovers.
Looking ahead, Iowa State will face Colorado at home on Tuesday night, while Cincinnati travels to West Virginia for their next matchup on Wednesday night.
