MILWAUKEE, Wis. – An 11-point halftime deficit proved too tall for Iowa State, as the Cyclones (25-10) were unable to overcome sixth-seeded Ole Miss in the Round of 32, falling to the Rebels (24-11) by a score of 91-78. The Cyclones were able to trim the midway deficit to as low as seven points a minute into the second stanza, but Ole Miss would quickly push its lead back to double figures and kept ISU at least 10 points away for the remainder of the game. Iowa State was led by senior guard Curtis Jones who finished with a game-high 26 points, matching his NCAA Tournament high from last year against Illinois. Two other Cyclones, Joshua Jefferson (16) and Nate Heise (13), finished in double figures.
How it Happened
The Cyclones got off to a hot start, carrying over their offensive momentum from the Lipscomb game as they took an early 13-5 lead five minutes into the game. A 23-4 run from Ole Miss shifted the tide of the first frame, as the Rebels were dialed in from the field, going 7-12 during that stretch and a perfect 3-3 from the stripe. Now leading 28-17, the Rebs flexed their experience and poise as they extended the lead to as large as 13 with a minute left. Just before the halftime horn, Curtis Jones buried a jumper to trim the Mississippi lead to 11 at the break. ISU shot just 27 percent from both the field and from deep as well as just 40 percent from the line.
Iowa State came out of the half with a plan, using Dishon Jackson in the paint. Back-to-back baskets from the big man quickly trimmed the Ole Miss lead down to seven just a minute into the half, but that was as close as ISU would get. The Rebs' hot shooting from the first half continued into the second, as they extended their lead to as large as 26. The Cyclones were able to make a late rally, whittling the Rebel lead all the way down to ten with just over a minute left. However, there was no madness in store for the Cyclones as Ole Miss held off ISU to secure its second Sweet 16 appearance in school history. The Rebels shot 58 percent both from the floor and from deep – its second-best 3-point performance of the season (11-19).
Key Performers
Curtis Jones was Iowa State's engine in the second half, as 16 of his 26 points came in the second period. Jones had a team-high three assists to go along with his game-high four 3-pointers. For Ole Miss, Sean Pedulla had a team-best 20 points with a game-high eight assists as he controlled the game throughout.
Notes
- Iowa State finishes the season with 25 wins, the fifth-most in a single season in school history.
- The Cyclones are 24-24 all-time in the NCAA Tournament and 7-7 in the second round.
- ISU finished the season with 268 three-pointers made, the eighth-most in a single season in school history.
- Curtis Jones connected on a 3-pointer in 14 consecutive games to finish the season.
- He ends the season with 88 made threes, tied for the ninth-most in single-season school history.
- Jones made 161 threes in his Cyclone career, good for ninth all-time at Iowa State.
- Jones reached double figures for the 28th time this season and his 52nd time as a Cyclone.
- In five games in NCAA Tournament play, Jones had 94 points, the fifth-most in school history.
- Joshua Jefferson reached double figures for a team-high 29th time this season.
- Tamin Lipsey started his 103rd game at Iowa State, tied with Justus Thigpen (1990-93) for 13th in program history.
- Lipsey finished the game with two steals, the 74th multi-steal game of his career.
- He had 68 steals this season, the 11th-most in a single season at ISU.
- Nate Heise reached double figures for the seventh time this season, matching his season high with 13 points.
