Iowa State guard Keshon Gilbert (10) drives to the basket between Iowa guard Josh Dix, left, and forward Payton Sandfort, right, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Curtis Jones scored 23 points, Joshua Jefferson added 19 points and 10 rebounds and No. 3 Iowa State overcame a 13-point deficit to beat Iowa 89-80 on Thursday night.
Iowa State (8-1) snapped a four-game road losing streak in the series.
Nate Heise made a layup with 3:05 left to give the Cyclones a 76-74 advantage, their first lead of the game. Iowa State took advantage of cold shooting by Iowa (7-3). The Hawkeyes missed 14 of 15 shots in an 8 1/2-minute stretch late in the second half.
Dishon Jackson had 12 points and Tamin Lipsey added 11 for Iowa State.
Owen Freeman led Iowa with 16 points. Josh Dix had 14 points, and Payton Sandfort added 13.
Iowa State guard Keshon Gilbert (10) celebrates with teammate guard Curtis Jones (5) after an NCAA college basketball game against Iowa, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Takeaways
Iowa State: The Cyclones didn’t let the Hawkeyes get away in the first half even though they weren’t making 3-pointers. Iowa State missed nine of its first 10 threes, but Lipsey’s 3-pointer 20 seconds into the second half got that part of the offense going. Iowa State was 3 of 13 in 3-pointers in the first half, 8 of 15 in the second half.
Iowa: The Hawkeyes, who have battled injuries all season, had their full roster available for the first time this season, but coach Fran McCaffery kept the rotation tight, using only eight players. Iowa made a switch in its starting lineup with Ladji Dembele coming off the bench, and he seemed to thrive — he had scored just six points in the previous four games, but had 11 in this game.
Key moment
Freeman was at the free throw line with 3:34 to play in the second half and the game tied at 74. He missed both free throws, the first misses from the line for the Hawkeyes, then the Cyclones took the lead on Heise’s layup 29 seconds later and outscored Iowa 15-6 the rest of the way.
Iowa State forward Milan Momcilovic (22) drives past Iowa guard Brock Harding during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Key stat
This was the first single-digit game in a while in the nonconference rivalry. The last six games were decided by an average of 20.3 points.
Up next
The Cyclones begin a two-game home stretch to conclude nonconference play, playing Omaha on Sunday. The Hawkeyes host New Orleans on Sunday.
Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger watches from the bench during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Iowa, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)Iowa head coach Fran McCaffery watches from the bench during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Iowa State, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)Iowa State guard Keshon Gilbert shoots over Iowa guard Drew Thelwell, left, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)Iowa guard Drew Thelwell (3) drives past Iowa State guard Keshon Gilbert (10) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)Iowa forward Owen Freeman (32) celebrates after making a basket during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Iowa State, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)Iowa State forward Joshua Jefferson (2) steals the ball from Iowa forward Ladji Dembele (13) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)Iowa State center Dishon Jackson (1) grabs a rebound in front of Iowa guard Josh Dix (4) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)Iowa State forward Joshua Jefferson (2) steals the ball from Iowa guard Drew Thelwell, left, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)Iowa forward Payton Sandfort (20) reacts after making a three-point basket during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Iowa State, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)Iowa forward Owen Freeman, left, passes over Iowa State guard Nate Heise (0) and guard Curtis Jones (5) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)Iowa State forward Joshua Jefferson, right, shoots over Iowa guard Brock Harding, left, and guard Josh Dix during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)Iowa State guard Keshon Gilbert (10) fights for a loose ball with Iowa guard Josh Dix during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)Iowa State forward Milan Momcilovic (22) drives to the basket over Iowa forward Payton Sandfort during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger, left, talks with Iowa head coach Fran McCaffery before an NCAA college basketball game, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)Iowa State guard Curtis Jones (5) shoots over Iowa guard Drew Thelwell (3) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
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