Iowa State basketball: 3 takeaways from the Cyclones’ overtime loss to Arizona

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Ouch.

Iowa State men’s basketball was seemingly seconds away from securing a victory to beat Arizona at the McKale Center. Caleb Love’s desperate buzzer-beating heave from mid-court plopped right through the hoop to tie the game and force overtime.

From there, the Wildcats rode the momentum and upset the third-ranked Cyclones, 86-75, on Monday night.

Arizona closed overtime on an 11-0 run over the final 2:24 to pull away for the victory.

Tamin Lipsey had 18 points to lead the Cyclones. Keshon Gilbert finished with 17 points and six rebounds. Joshua Jefferson had 15 points. Dishon Jackson chipped in a 10-point, 10-rebound double-double.

The road to a potential Big 12 regular season title and No. 1 NCAA Tournament seed is still there, but it definitely just got a bit more difficult for the Cyclones.

Love led Arizona with a game-high 22 points. Tobe Awaka chipped in a 17-point, 12-rebound double-double. K.J. Lewis and Carter Bryant each ahd 14 points off the bench.

Here are three takeaways from the Cyclones loss:

Foul up three or not? Iowa State loses in overtime

It’s easy to say in hindsight. Do you foul up three coming down the stretch or let it ride on your defense?

Joshua Jefferson went 1-for-2 at the line with 2.9 seconds on the clock to give the Cyclones a 71-68 lead.

Love received the ball and threw up a half-court heave that hit nothing but net to push the game into overtime.

“Depending on the clock and the timing, first scenario (up 70-67 after Curtis Jones free throws) presents itself with probably 20.6, so it was a little too early so we’re not fouling there,” Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger said. “Then at the end, when it’s a couple seconds, it’s easy to look at it now and say, ‘why didn’t you foul in that situation?’ I don’t know what the odds are of that shot going in, but probably not real high — so the odds in that situation are you don’t foul and you’re better off to defend.”

The decision to not foul didn’t seem like a bad one. The Wildcats haven’t been a great…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/iowa-state-basketball-3-takeaways-120412649.html

Author : The Des Moines Register

Publish date : 2025-01-28 12:04:00

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