AMES – Playing a team three times in a season is rare, but for No. 8 Iowa State and Colorado, that rarity became a reality Tuesday night. Just like the first two games, the Cyclones came away victorious in a 79-65 contest in front of the fans who braved the cold weather in Ames.
The win brings Iowa State to a 21-5 overall record and 11-4 in the Big 12. It also marks the fourth win in a row for the Cyclones.
“We just came together,” Iowa State senior center Dishon Jackson said. “I still don’t think we’ve played our best basketball yet. I think we’ve still got work to do.”
The win came through an efficient attack on offense and defense, as Iowa State shot 51.1% from the field, which was the 11th time it shot at or above 50% in a game. On defense, the Cyclones forced the Buffaloes into several tough shots, especially from beyond the arc, as they went 4-for-17 from outside.
A big part of that work that built the lead happened in the first eight minutes when Iowa State went on a 20-5 run to start the game. Two 10-0 runs that surrounded a Buffaloes 3-pointer lifted the Cyclones to a lead they maintained throughout the night.
“We started off solid,” Iowa State senior guard Nate Heise said. “The rest of the game wasn’t as great as the start, but we got the win.”
However, with that aggression came the fouls, as both teams combined for 45. Iowa State shot a season-high 31 free throws and made 21, while Colorado was 13-for-22.
“We want the game to be physical [but] we don’t want to commit unnecessary fouls,” Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger said. “From the offensive side of things, we want to drive the ball to the paint, we want to play a physical brand of basketball.”
That defensive intensity also resulted in 14 Colorado turnovers, which turned into 18 points for the Cyclones on the offensive side. Again, on the other side, the Cyclones committed 14 turnovers of their own.
A big chunk of the defensive turnovers came from steals, which Iowa State had nine of. Three were from senior guard Keshon Gilbert, while junior forward Joshua Jefferson, junior guard Tamin Lipsey and Heise all had two. Lipsey is now two steals away from the all-time record at Iowa State.
When those turnovers turned into points, it gave the Cyclones confidence. One player who needed that confidence on offense, and got it, was Heise.
Heise has been viewed as more of a threat on defense despite being the leading scorer at Northern Iowa a season ago. Tuesday against the Buffaloes, Heise got his season-high in points as a Cyclone with 11 points.
“It’s great to see him play to his ability level,” Otzelberger said. “I don’t think [Tuesday] was some great game for him. I think that’s what he’s capable of, and that’s what he needs to keep his focus on, continuing to do that. I’m confident that’s where his mind will be.”
Senior guard Curtis Jones committed two early fouls in the game, which limited his minutes. Heise was leaned on in an effort to get a spark going on offense, and he delivered.
In past games, Heise has been reluctant at times to shoot from outside. There would be open shots that he would pass up in an attempt to spread the ball around to his teammates.
That wasn’t so much the case this time around. Part of that goes back to Heise’s experience at the collegiate level.
“I’ve been in college long enough to know they’ll come, those ups and downs,” Heise said.
Heise was one of five Cyclones that shot at or above 50% from the field and was one of five players who scored in double figures. When Iowa State has that many guys score 10 or more points, odds are the Cyclones will win the game.
Senior center Dishon Jackson and sophomore forward Milan Momcilovic led the scoring with 13 apiece. Seven of Jackson’s points came from the free-throw line.
Jackson also added three rebounds and an assist, which was on a 3-pointer from fellow big man Jefferson, who had 12 points after he was 4-for-6 from the floor and made both of his 3-point attempts.
The way Iowa State works the ball inside back to the outside and vice versa is exactly how the attack went all night long. The balance of the Cyclones’ offense made it abundantly clear that they had something going that Colorado couldn’t stop.
The win gives Iowa State some momentum before its road trip to Houston on Saturday.
“We want to play our best every single possession,” Otzelberger said. “Ultimately, what you have to do is get the mental focus and find a way to win the game.”
