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  • No. 6 Tennessee Upends No. 2 Iowa State, Ending The Cyclones Season In The Sweet 16

No. 6 Tennessee Upends No. 2 Iowa State, Ending The Cyclones Season In The Sweet 16

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Basketball

The 2025-26 season came to a close for No. 6 Iowa State (29-8, 12-6 Big 12) Friday evening, as the Cyclones fell in the Sweet 16 to No. 23 Tennessee (25-11, 11-7 SEC) by a score of 76-62.

After a tightly-contested, back-and-forth first half, the Volunteers broke things open in the second stanza as they pulled away using their advantage inside.

The absence of All-American Joshua Jefferson proved too much against the Vols, as ISU's shorthanded frontcourt was bested on the glass, fueling the Tennessee win. The Volunteers outrebounded ISU 43-22, 16 of which were offensive, and had 14 second-chance points with 42 points in the paint.

For the Cyclones, both seniors Tamin Lipsey and Nate Heise were tied for a game-high 18 points. Each also had five boards – tied for a team-high. ISU got just three points off its bench, as star wing Milan Momcilovic was held to just six points.

Tennessee was led by freshman Nate Ament, who had 18 to go along with four rebounds and three assists. Jakobi Gillespie had 16 points, while the big man duo of Felix Okpara and Jaylen Carey combined for 23 points and 20 rebounds.

The Cyclone offense was limited to just 39 percent shooting from the field and 22 percent from downtown. Each side shot 60 percent from the charity stripe while the Cyclones won the turnover battle, forcing 17 from the Vols.

How it Happened
The Cyclones threw the first punch, taking an early lead against the Volunteers. ISU opened up its largest lead of the first half (4) just four minutes into the contest.

Tennessee responded to Iowa State's quick start by establishing itself down low. The Volunteers began flexing their size in the paint, gobbling up offensive rebounds and using second-chance attempts to fuel their early offense.

The Vols took their first lead at the 13:05 mark, and after a back-and-forth struggle for the lead, Tennessee grabbed firm control at the 7:37 mark. The Vols would hold the lead until the clock read 1:16, as ISU overcame a five-point edge to retake the lead on a Lipsey layup.

The Vols would take the advantage into the half, though, cashing a pair of free throws with 12 seconds left to hold a 34-33 lead. At the half, ISU had forced 10 UT turnovers but was minus-12 in the rebound war.

The Volunteers opened the second half with a purpose, extending their halftime lead to 14 by the under-12. ISU would be able to cut the lead to as little as eight, but didn't have enough to mount a full comeback, eventually falling by 14.

Key Performer
Tamin Lipsey did it all in his final game as a Cyclone, as the kid from Ames finished with 18 points, tied for a team high, with five rebounds and five assists – each of which also led the team. Lipsey also had one steal and played a team-high 36 minutes.

Notes

  • Iowa State's 2025-26 team became the first in school history to eclipse the 3,00 point mark. The Cyclones scored 3,033 points this season.
  • Killyan Toure tied teammate Milan Momcilovic for the most starts by a freshman in a season with 37.
  • Milan Momcilovic made six triples this NCAA postseason – the third-most by a Cyclone in an NCAA Tournament.
    • He has 98 NCAA Tournament points in his career.
    • He now has 19 3-pointers in the NCAA Tournament – tied for the most by any Cyclone.
    • Momcilovic finished with the 14th-most points in a single season in school history (624).
    • He tied Naz Mitrou-Long for the second-most 3-pointers in school history (260) and trails just Jake Sullivan (270).
    • Momcilovic hit a 3-pointer for the 22nd-straight game, the fifth-longest streak in school history.
  • With his one steal today, Tamin Lipsey set the ISU record for most steals in an NCAA Tournament with six.
    • Lipsey and Momcilovic both played in their second Sweet 16, increasing the list of Cyclones to do so to six.
    • Lipsey played in his ninth NCAA Tournament game, tied with Monté Morris and Matt Thomas for the most in school history. 
    • He finished his career with 110 NCAA Tournament points – the fourth-most by any Cyclone.
    • He finished the year tied with Terry Woods (173) for 15th-most assists in a season by a Cyclone.
    • Lipsey finishes his career with the fourth-most assists in program history, behind just Diante Garrett, Jeff Hornacek and Monté Morris.
      • He eclipsed 600 total on the night.
    • He also finished 15th in school history in scoring, eclipsing 1,500 total points on the night and ending his career with 1,507.
  • Nate Heise went over 1,300 career points and corralled his 700th career board on the night.