Iowa State Secures First Win in Las Vegas Against St. John’s 83-82

The Cyclones were able to remain undefeated after a one point victory over the St. John’s Red Storm. But at what cost? Most fans knew this one was going to be a physical matchup, the starters had a combined 17 fouls. However, Lipsey getting injured in the final minutes of this game might be the biggest takeaway from the Cyclones’ biggest win of the 25-26 campaign.

Milan Momcilovic certainly had his best game of the year with 23 points on 8/13 shooting from the field. Momcilovic was Iowa State’s best offensive player, and proving to be more than “just” a shooter hitting some critical shots inside the arc down the stretch. But about that shooting, he started 4/5 from the three point line, finishing with five triples.

Miraculously, Iowa State outrebounded St. John’s and for the first time this season, lost the turnover battle; 11-10. Iowa State forced just 3 turnovers in the first half, but tallied 7 in the second. Blake Buchanan ended the game with only 7 points but he played a lot of great basketball with four fouls. Buchanan held his own against a great St. John’s front court with stars like Zuby Ejofor, Bryce Hopkins and triple transfer Dillon Mitchell.

Joshua Jefferson finished with 17 points and 8 rebounds and had some of the ball handling responsibilities once Lipsey left the game. A lot of teams would be shaken when their veteran four year starter has to leave for the locker room in the weaning minutes of the second half, and rightfully so. But instead, Iowa State gutted out their biggest victory of the season with great defense down the stretch. Coach Otzelberger made the fateful decision to not foul up 3, and against a bad 3-point shooting team like St. John’s, it turned out to be the right decision.

After the game, on the Cyclone Radio Network, Iowa State’s head athletic trainer Vic Miller told John Walters that that Lipsey suffered a lower body injury and is “day-to-day”. I don’t expect Lipsey to be suited up for Creighton, but time will tell. If that’s the case, both teams will be down a starter as it was announced Creighton’s Jackson McAndrew is out for the season.