No. 3 Iowa State turned an ugly shooting night into a historic win.
Behind a dominant second half from Tamin Lipsey and another monster performance from Joshua Jefferson, the Cyclones pulled away from Baylor for a 70-60 victory Saturday night in Waco, improving to 15-0 for the first time in program history and tallying the program’s 1,500th win in school history.
It wasn’t pretty early — not for either team.
Both offenses struggled mightily in the first half, with Iowa State shooting just 28 percent and Baylor an even colder 19 percent. The Bears briefly held the edge, but Jefferson kept the Cyclones afloat, scoring nine points before halftime despite Iowa State shooting just 26 percent for much of the opening period.
The turning point came just before the break.
Jefferson drilled a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give Iowa State its first lead of the night, 25-24, and already had a double-double by halftime with 12 points and 11 rebounds — a tone-setter in a game that badly needed one.
That shot ignited the Cyclones.
Iowa State opened the second half on a 10-0 run dating back to Jefferson’s buzzer-beater, capped by a Lipsey three that pushed the lead to 34-25. Baylor managed just one point in the first four minutes of the half as the Cyclones finally found life on both ends of the floor.
The margin grew to as much as nine, but foul trouble threatened to derail Iowa State’s momentum. Big men Blake Buchanan and Dom Pleta picked up their fourth fouls, and Milan Momcilovic soon joined them, forcing the Cyclones to navigate the final 12 minutes with care.
Baylor used the free-throw line to claw back into the game, trimming the lead to 53-47 and briefly putting pressure on Iowa State’s young lineup. But each time the Bears closed in, Lipsey responded.
After knocking down two free throws to steady the Cyclones, Lipsey buried a deep three late in the shot clock — the biggest shot of the night — to push the lead back to seven. From there, Iowa State never let Baylor get closer than two possessions.
Lipsey finished with a game-high 24 points, scoring 20 in the second half and sealing the victory with a late steal. Jefferson added 19 points and 16 rebounds, anchoring the Cyclones in the paint and on the glass throughout.
It wasn’t an offensive showcase, but it was another example of this team’s versatility — winning with defense, rebounding and poise when shots weren’t falling. And in the process, Iowa State walked out of Waco with history, perfection and another statement that this season continues to be something special.
