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  • No. 3 Iowa State Remains Perfect In Big 12 Play With The Cyclones Routing No. 25 Baylor, 74-55

No. 3 Iowa State Remains Perfect In Big 12 Play With The Cyclones Routing No. 25 Baylor, 74-55

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Basketball

No. 3 Iowa State (12-1, 2-0 Big 12) opened home Big 12 play in emphatic fashion, routing No. 25 Baylor (9-4, 1-1 Big 12) by a score of 74-55. The 19-point victory is the second-largest home margin of victory over a top 25 opponent in program history. The all-time series record is now tied at 25 apiece and ISU has won 10 straight home contests against top 25 opponents.

Now winners of nine straight, the Cyclones improved to 2-0 to open conference play for the second time in four years under T.J. Otzelberger. As part of the Saturday action, Iowa State recognized and honored the 1999-00 and 2000-01 men's basketball programs that won back-to-back Big 12 championships at halftime.

Iowa State suffocated Baylor on the afternoon, holding the Bears to their lowest point output since Jan. 15, 2022. ISU held BU to 30 percent shooting from the floor and held the lead for all but 39 seconds when the two were knotted at zero to begin the game.

Keshon Gilbert logged his third career double-double, leading the team with 16 points and 10 boards. Milan Momcilovic drilled a quartet of triples and ended with 15 points, while Curtis Jones joined them in double figures with 14 off the bench. Dishon Jackson tied his season-high with 10 rebounds of his own, matching Gilbert, while Joshua Jefferson stuffed the stat sheet, scoring five points, grabbing five rebounds and dishing a game-high eight assists.

Missing two players from its usual nine-man rotation, Baylor stuck to seven players and struggled to get going on offense. Duke transfer Jeremy Roach led the way, scoring 16 points, while freshman Rob Wright joined him in double figures with 10. Post Josh Ojianwuna recorded a double-double for the Bears, dropping 13 points with 10 boards.

ISU finished the day shooting 49 percent from the floor and 48 percent from deep. Iowa State's 10 3-pointers are tied for the second most in a game by the Cyclones this season. Baylor won the turnover margin, forcing 12 against ISU, while the Cyclones only turned the Bears over eight times. ISU was plus-seven in the rebound war and outscored the Bears 25-10 in points off the bench.

How it Happened
Iowa State began Saturday's contest 2-2 from deep, burying back-to-back threes to open the game and take a 6-0 lead. The Cyclones wouldn't have to worry much from there, as they opened a 10-point lead just five minutes into the contest.

Baylor had a dreadful first half, shooting 28 percent from the floor and 21 percent from deep. Offensive boards kept the Bears in the game, as they pulled down 10 in the first half.

A Baylor bucket with five seconds left cut the Cyclone first half lead to eight at the break, as ISU went into half on top, 33-25. Gilbert had 11 at the break to lead all scorers as Iowa State finished shooting 48 percent from the floor and 40 percent from deep.

The Cyclones started to pile it on in the second half, pushing its eight point halftime lead to double digits two minutes in. Baylor would never bring it back within single digits, as the Cyclones cruised to the blowout victory.

Key Performer
Keshon Gilbert did everything the Cyclones needed him to this afternoon. Besides leading all scorers, Gilbert also led all players in rebounds with ten. He alone shot 50 percent from the floor, canning a pair of triples and also dishing out five assists. He played a team-high 36 minutes and recorded one steal.

Notes

  • Otzelberger now has 82 wins, passing Tim Floyd for seventh in program history.
    • His 31 conference wins ties Bill Chandler (1922-28) for seventh in program history.
    • His 23 wins over AP Top 25 teams ties Fred Hoiberg for second in school history and the second-most in the country during the last four years.
    • His 82 wins in first four years passes Tim Floyd for the fourth-most in program history
  • Iowa State now has its fifth double-digit conference home winning streak in school history and first time since 2015.
  • With one steal this afternoon, Tamin Lipsey is now sixth all-time in ISU annals for thefts. He is one shy of 200 in his career and No. 5 in school history.
  • Curtis Jones played in his 50th game as a Cyclone.
    • He went over 400 career field goals too.
  • Keshon Gilbert also played in his 50th game as a Cyclone.
    • He now has over 200 rebounds in an ISU uniform and is over 400 for his career.
  • Milan Momcilovic, like Gilbert and Jones, played in his 50th game as a Cyclone.

Up Next
The Cyclones will be back in action on Tuesday, Jan. 7, when they welcome Utah to Hilton Coliseum. The Cyclones and Utes will meet for the fourth time ever Tuesday evening, as the game is set to tip off at 7 p.m. and will be streamed live on ESPN+.