Alright college hoops fans you are not gonna believe this. Just days after an epic double-overtime win at home BYU has done it AGAIN to Iowa State . This time it was in the Big 12 Tournament quarterfinals and it was another game for the ages. Buckle up because we are diving into all the action from this wild matchup!
Cougars Roar Past Cyclones in High-Scoring Big 12 Quarterfinal: BYU Edges Out Iowa State 96-92
Thursday's game was nothing short of a barnburner a total offensive explosion compared to their defensive battle just over a week ago. BYU and Iowa State went toe-to-toe in a game that had fans on the edge of their seats. The final score? 96-92 in favor of BYU. Yeah you read that right NINETY-SIX points. This was not your typical grind-it-out Big 12 game folks.
Iowa State even without two key players Keshon Gilbert and Tamin Lipsey put up a fight . They shot lights out hitting over 56% from the field and a sizzling 43% from three-point land. Curtis Jones for Iowa State was ON FIRE dropping 31 points with 22 of those coming in the first half alone. Seriously the guy could not be stopped for a while there.
But BYU's offense was just too much to handle. The Cougars set a Big 12 Tournament record with 18 three-pointers. Eighteen! And they were sharing the ball like crazy dishing out 24 assists. Their offense was clicking on all cylinders and when it mattered most in crunch time BYU stepped up and sealed the deal.
Coaches Tip Their Hats: Otzelberger Praises BYU's Spirit and Young Acknowledges Iowa State's Fight
Even in defeat Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger had nothing but respect for BYU. After the game he told reporters "So much respect for BYU and their program their coaching staff." He knew it would be a tough game after their recent double-overtime clash and he wasn't wrong.
Otzelberger pointed out "Our guys came out with an unbelievable spirit program pride and toughness." Even though the Cyclones lost he felt they "really left it out on the court." He acknowledged that in this game "both teams played with that freedom and confidence in the open court the basketball moved and guys made big plays and big shots." Basically it was just two really good teams trading blows.
BYU coach Kevin Young was equally impressed with Iowa State especially Curtis Jones' first-half performance. Young said "The show that Curtis Jones put on in the first half was remarkable. Felt like no matter what we did he was going to make a shot." He credited his team for "weathering the storm" and finding a way to win.
Young also highlighted BYU's teamwork saying "to go 24 assists on 30 made shots is an incredible number so I think that speaks to how unselfish our guys are and they play for each other." Unselfish offense and clutch shooting? That's a recipe for success in March.
Player Spotlight: Curtis Jones Goes Off for Cyclones While Saunders Leads Balanced BYU Attack
While the game was a team effort on both sides some individual performances definitely stood out. For Iowa State Curtis Jones was the clear star dropping a game-high 31 points. He was hitting shots from everywhere and kept the Cyclones in the game especially in the first half.
For BYU Richie Saunders led the way with 23 points and he came up clutch in the second half hitting a huge three-pointer late in the game to extend BYU's lead. But it wasn't just Saunders for BYU it was a balanced attack. Fousseyni Traore added 15 points off the bench Trevin Knell had 14 points and Mihailo Boskovic chipped in with 10. BYU had multiple guys step up which makes them so tough to guard.
NCAA Tournament Hopes Remain High for Iowa State Despite Big 12 Exit: Cyclones Eye March Magic
Even though Iowa State is out of the Big 12 Tournament it is definitely not the end of their season. The Cyclones are still ranked No. 10 nationally and are projected to be a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament according to ESPN. So March Madness is still very much in their sights.
Coach Otzelberger is optimistic about his team's chances saying "When you have those experiences it brings you closer together and I feel like (with) our group right now there's a bond there's a connection and they want to play for one another." He believes "special things can happen" when a team has that kind of commitment and focus.
Otzelberger is looking forward to getting his injured players healthy and getting back to practice. He's confident "our best is still in front of us" and is eager to get back to work to "bring out our best" for the NCAA Tournament. Don't count out Iowa State just yet folks. They are battle-tested and hungry for March success.
Key Takeaways from the BYU vs. Iowa State Big 12 Quarterfinal Game:
- BYU Wins Again: Cougars defeat Iowa State 96-92 in a high-scoring Big 12 Tournament quarterfinal.
- Record-Setting 3-Pointers: BYU hits a Big 12 Tournament record 18 three-pointers.
- Curtis Jones' Scoring Outburst: Iowa State's Curtis Jones scores a game-high 31 points.
- Balanced BYU Offense: Richie Saunders leads BYU with 23 points in a balanced scoring effort.
- NCAA Tournament Bound: Despite the loss Iowa State is still expected to receive a high seed in the NCAA Tournament.
- Coaches Respect: Both coaches praise the spirit and effort of their respective teams.
Selection Sunday Awaits: Will Iowa State Make a Deep March Madness Run Despite Big 12 Setback?
So there you have it another instant classic between BYU and Iowa State with the Cougars coming out on top this time. While it's a tough loss for Iowa State their NCAA Tournament hopes are still very much alive. Selection Sunday is just around the corner and Cyclone fans will be watching closely to see where their team lands and who they will face. One thing is for sure with their talent and toughness Iowa State could definitely make some noise in March Madness. Get ready for more bracket-busting action!