Iowa State Cyclones Triumph Over Baylor
In a tightly contested matchup, the No. 7 Iowa State Cyclones emerged victorious against Baylor with a narrow 72-69 scoreline in Ames, Iowa, on Saturday. This win marks Iowa State’s fifth consecutive triumph, improving their record to 21-2 overall and 8-2 in the Big 12 Conference.
Key Performers
Milan Momcilovic led the Cyclones with 21 points, marking his 11th game this season with 20 or more points, despite his usual success from the three-point line being dampened, as he shot only 2 of 6 from beyond the arc. Joshua Jefferson contributed significantly with 15 points and secured five rebounds, while Tamin Lipsey rounded out the scoring with 14 points and nine rebounds.
Baylor’s Efforts
Baylor fought hard, closing the gap late in the game after trailing by as many as 14 points with just over two minutes remaining. Cameron Carr dazzled for the Bears, racking up 24 points. Tounde Yessoufou also made a significant impact, scoring 17 points, including a last-second three-pointer that capped off an impressive 11-0 run by Baylor. Despite their efforts, the Bears fell to 13-10 overall and 3-8 in conference play.
Looking Ahead
The Cyclones had previously demonstrated dominance in their games, winning their last four by an average margin of 26.8 points. Heading into a challenging period of their schedule, where they will face several ranked opponents, Iowa State’s resilience will be tested. They had a firm grip by halftime with a score of 37-33, thanks to Momcilovic’s strong performance.
Looking ahead, Baylor will host No. 16 BYU on Tuesday while Iowa State is set to travel to face TCU the same day.
This game highlighted both teams’ potential as they navigate the grueling landscape of college basketball during the season.
