In one of the most entertaining games we’ve ever seen in the T-Mobile Center, it was BYU who advanced to the Big 12 Tournament semifinal round after a 96-92 win over the fifth-seeded Iowa State.
After a red-hot start from BYU, the Cyclones battled back, took control of the ball game, and did so without the help of their top two guards. Of course, it came down to the wire in the final minutes, and with BYU shooting as well as anyone in the country, it was the Cougars who eventually prevailed.
Here are the biggest takeaways from the game and what it means for both of them going forward.
Jones Steps Up for the ‘Clones
Iowa State entered this game with Keshon Gilbert officially ruled out, and despite warming up and appearing like he would give it a go, Tamin Lipsey also stayed on the bench for the entire contest.
With its top two guards on the bench, the Cyclones were forced to turn to the Big 12 Sixth-Man of the Year, Curtis Jones, who showed up in a huge way. Jones had 22 points in the first 15 minutes of the game and helped keep Iowa State in the game despite a crazy-fast start from the BYU offense.
Then, coming out of the half, he added the first five points for the Cyclones and went quiet after the Cougars made some adjustments defensively.
In the end, Jones finished with 31 points and was 7-for-13 from three. It wasn’t enough, as BYU was just too hot down the stretch, but it was a Herculean effort from Jones in a tough spot.
No Lights Left in the Gym
Big 12 tournament fans have never experienced a game quite like the one they got this afternoon, as BYU and Iowa State combined for 31 made three-pointers—the most in Big 12 Tournament history.
It’s not often that a game involving the Cyclones is considered “defense optional,” and that wasn’t even the case on Thursday. Both teams literally shot the lights out of the gym. Iowa State shot 56.1 % from the field and still lost. BYU was just behind them at 51.7%—the difference was that the Cougars poured in a whopping 18 threes while shooting an absurd 50.0% (18-for-36) from deep. Richie Saunders led BYU with 23 points and came alive in the final five minutes of the game, including a vital three late in the game that virtually sealed it.
BYU also went 18-21 from the free throw line, while Iowa State had just seven attempts from the stripe.
What’s Next?
BYU advances to the semifinal round on Friday, where they’ll face the winner of Houston vs. Colorado. The Cougars have now won nine straight games and are among the hottest teams in all of college basketball.
Meanwhile, Iowa State’s tournament run ends short after one win. The Cyclones will now have a chance to get back to Ames and rest up, but more importantly, get healthy. They’ll need Tamin Lipsey and Keshon Gilbert to be available if they want to make the run that they’re capable of.
Iowa State is currently projected as a three-seed in the tournament, while BYU is on the five-line but could potentially move up if they remain hot.
