AMES — Missed opportunities rebounding, getting out-rebounded 35-29, led to No. 4 Iowa State’s 82-73 loss against No. 16 Texas Tech.
In Iowa State Head Coach T.J. Otzelberger’s opening statement, he emphasized the importance of rebounding and took responsibility for not placing enough focus on the category.
“We defined coming into this game, how important winning the rebounding battle would be in finishing plays on the glass,” Otzelberger said. “I’ve got to do a better job as a coach, in terms of demanding rebounding effort, two-handed rebounds, finishing on the glass, finishing plays by any means necessary and I didn’t do that today.”
The Red Raiders had a team-wide effort on the glass, with three players recording over seven rebounds.
“It’s not about one guy, and people want to make it about that, but this is not what we’re playing,” Texas Tech Head Coach Grant McCasland said. “We’re playing a team sport and it’s so much fun to see the competitiveness of this group and how well our guards and team are rebounded together.”
Texas Tech junior forward Lejuan Watts recorded seven rebounds while freshman guard Jaylen Petty and sophomore forward Josiah Moseley recorded nine.
McCasland praised Petty for being the smallest player on the court at 6-foot-1 and still putting in effort on the glass.
“I thought Jalen Petty’s rebound at the beginning of the game with two hands over Momcilovic was unbelievable,” McCasland said. “Petty’s the smallest guy on the court. You want to talk about heart and fight? So, you know, he accepted the challenge.”
Iowa State also gave up nine offensive rebounds, leading to 12 Red Raider second-chance points.
Petty had two offensive rebounds in one possession with around 13 minutes to play in the second half.
The pair of offensive rebounds led to his own three-point jumper falling, stretching the Texas Tech lead to 17 points.
To go along with his nine rebounds, Petty recorded an efficient 12 points on 60% shooting in 33 minutes played.
Forwards Blake Buchanan, Dominykas Pleta and Joshua Jefferson were limited in gaining inside positioning over their Texas Tech counterparts.
Buchanan led the team in rebounds with 11. No other Cyclone was above five.
“Definitely not up to the standard because that’s something T.J. [Otzelberger] really emphasised before the game, rebounding, win that battle, we’ll win the game and we came up short,” junior forward Milan Momcilovic said.
