No. 12 Iowa State Dominates Cincinnati 76-56 in Big 12 Tournament, Lipsey Exits with Injury

Kansas City, Mo. (AP) — No. 12 Iowa State powered past Cincinnati 76-56 in the second round of the Big 12 Tournament on Wednesday, relying on their frontcourt to control the game. Joshua Jefferson led the Cyclones with 19 points, while Dishon Jackson recorded a double-double with 10 points and 15 rebounds.

Despite committing 17 turnovers, Iowa State (24-8) asserted their dominance on the boards, outrebounding the Bearcats 41-23. Their superiority inside led to a decisive 36-16 advantage in points in the paint. Cincinnati’s big men, 7-foot Aziz Bandaogo and 6-foot-8 Dillon Mitchell, struggled to make an impact, combining for just four points.

Iowa State’s Tamin Lipsey added 16 points before exiting late in the game with an apparent groin injury, raising concerns about his availability moving forward. The Cyclones also saw the return of Keshon Gilbert, who had missed three of the past five games due to a muscle strain. Gilbert played 11 minutes in the first half, scoring three points, but did not return after halftime. His condition, along with Lipsey’s, will be crucial as Iowa State continues its pursuit of the Big 12 title.

The Bearcats (18-15), seeded No. 13 in the tournament, struggled offensively down the stretch. Jizzle James led Cincinnati with 17 points but missed his final six shots. His cold spell contributed to Iowa State’s game-ending 11-0 run, which sealed the Cyclones’ commanding victory. Josh Reed chipped in 10 points, while Day Day Thomas finished with nine.

Iowa State’s win sets up a quarterfinal matchup against No. 4 seed BYU, a team they battled to a double-overtime thriller last week. The Cyclones will look to build on their inside dominance while hoping for positive injury updates on Lipsey and Gilbert.

As the Big 12 Tournament heats up, Iowa State remains a strong contender, but their depth will be tested in the coming rounds.