AMES — The No. 5 Cyclones got the 2024-25 season off on the right foot, as they easily dispatched the wildly overmatched Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils by a score of 83-44.
Cyclone backcourt leads the way in scoring
Four Cyclones scored in double figures Monday night, but the two that led the way were guards Keshon Gilbert and Tamin Lipsey.
Gilbert and Lipsey were the leading scorers for last season’s team, with Gilbert averaging 13.7 points per game and Lipsey averaging 12.4.
This game continued the trend of the backcourt pair leading the way on offense, with Gilbert scoring 17 points and Lipsey scoring 16.
“There’s no two point guards I’d rather have than running our team,” head coach T.J. Otzelberger said.
Of the two, Lipsey was more efficient with his offensive game, going 5-for-7 from the field, 1-for-2 from 3-point range and 5-for-5 from the free throw line. He also had four assists, three steals, a rebound and a team-high two blocks.
“[Lipsey] is amazing with the effort he gives,” Otzelberger said. “The extra effort plays, how he flies around, puts his body in the line for his teammates, the program, that certainly showed up, made a lot of those plays tonight.”
Gilbert shot 5-for-12 from the field and 0-for-2 from three-point range, but he made it count during his trips to the free-throw line, going 7-for-8.
“[Gilbert] was relentless, attacking,” Otzelberger said. “He’s gotta continue to get to the foul line and he can be even better at picking his spots.”
Cyclone defense suffocates Delta Devils
Last season the Cyclones had the fourth-best scoring defense in the nation, holding opponents to just 59.7 points per game.
Iowa State started the 2024-25 season right where they left off, holding Mississippi Valley State to just 44 points.
The Cyclones held the Delta Devils to 37.3 percent from the field and 8.3 percent from three, but shooting percentage may have been the least of the Delta Devils’ concerns.
Iowa State forced 24 turnovers, leading directly to 26 points. The Cyclones recorded 16 steals, with five players recording over two or more. Saint Mary’s transfer Joshua Jefferson led the way with four.
Despite the impressive numbers, the Cyclones feel like they could’ve done a lot more defensively.
“I feel like we took our foot off on the defensive side,” Lipsey said.
“It’s going to take every day at practice,” Otzelberger said. “We gotta fight for it.”
Transfer big men play well in Iowa State debut
After losing forwards Robert Jones, Tre King and Hason Ward at the end of the 2023-24 season, addressing the front court was a priority for the Cyclones in the off-season.
Iowa State went into the transfer portal and grabbed three forwards who scored over nine points per game for mid-major schools, those being Dishon Jackson from Charlotte, Jefferson from Saint Mary’s and Brandton Chatfield from Seattle.
Jackson and Jefferson found themselves in the starting lineup for their Iowa State debut and made the most of their opportunities.
“I think we mesh really well together,” Jefferson said. “We play off each other really good. We have a good relationship off the court so I think it just makes it very smooth when we’re on the floor.”
Jackson scored nine points on 75% shooting and went 3-for-5 from the line, while also recording six rebounds, an assist and a block in nearly 19 minutes of action.
Jefferson was third on the team in scoring, putting up 10 points on 66% shooting from the field and going 2-for-2 from the line. Jefferson also recorded six rebounds, an assist and a team-high four steals in the 20 minutes he was on the court.
“[Jackson] and [Jefferson] did a great job of getting us started,” Otzelberger said. “They’re both really good, skilled players that can score the basketball.”
Chatfield was not in the starting lineup, but he did get over 10 minutes of playing time, scoring four points on 1-4 shooting from the field and 2-2 from the line, while also recording five offensive rebounds.
“[Chatfield], I think had some nerves a little bit early, but he was awesome on the offensive glass,” Otzelberger said.
“Overall, all three guys are really good players and are gonna have a huge impact for us,” Otzelberger said.
