All articles tagged with #iowa state cyclones
Milan Momcilovic has withdrawn from the 2026 NBA Draft to return to college basketball, with Kentucky viewed as a potential destination after he praised their style. The 6-8 wing averaged a career-best 16.9 points on efficient shooting and has emerged as a top portal target as he re-enters the college landscape.
Iowa State forward Milan Momcilovic announced he is turning his attention to the NBA Draft and has entered the transfer portal, signaling a potential move away from the Cyclones after a standout run. He posted a heartfelt message thanking fans, coaches, and teammates, while ISU head coach T.J. Otzelberger issued a supportive statement, wishing him well as he pursues his NBA dream.
Nebraska used two different lineups and the full bench to beat Iowa State in Sioux Falls, with Adriano, Sigler and Pierce combining for 24 kills on 34 swings, and freshmen Gabby DiVita, Keoni Williams and Jayden Robinson making notable debuts as the Huskers showcased a versatile, high-powered offense ahead of the regular season.
Iowa State used a lockdown defense in the second half, forcing 20 Kentucky turnovers and outscoring the Wildcats 51-33 to erase an early deficit and win 82-63, advancing to the Sweet 16; Nate Heise said ISU had identified the chance Kentucky might lay down if they built a big lead.
Iowa State forward Joshua Jefferson will undergo an MRI and begin pool-based, non-weight-bearing rehab after an ankle injury suffered in the NCAA Tournament; ISU coach T.J. Otzelberger said diagnostics with McFarland Orthopedics will guide the next steps, with Jefferson doing multiple rehab sessions daily in an acute stage and no fixed timetable, as he pushes to be available for the Sweet 16 in Chicago if possible.
Kentucky led early, but a string of 20 turnovers and a costly late first-half sequence allowed Iowa State to surge back, then shot well in the second half to beat Kentucky 82-63 and end the Wildcats’ season in St. Louis.
Kentucky, a 7-seed, takes on 2-seed Iowa State in the NCAA Round of 32, with Iowa State star Joshua Jefferson’s ankle sprain casting uncertainty over the Cyclones’ lineup. Kentucky aims to carry momentum from Friday’s win over Santa Clara, while Iowa State’s stout defense—holding opponents to about 65.4 points per game—presents a tough test. Tip-off is 2:45 PM ET on CBS, and a win would send Kentucky to the Sweet 16 in Chicago.
Iowa State forward Joshua Jefferson suffered a left ankle sprain in the NCAA Tournament first-round win over Tennessee State. He’s in a boot and non-weight-bearing, with a plan to progress as safely as possible. ISU athletic trainer Vic Miller emphasized the diagnosis rules out fracture/high-ankle injury, noted coordination with orthopedists, and outlined a treatment-focused rehab over the next 48 hours—rest, compression, and controlled movement, plus nutrition—as ISU assesses whether he can return for Sunday’s game against Kentucky.
Iowa State forward Joshua Jefferson left the NCAA Tournament first-round game against Tennessee State with a serious left ankle injury and was sent to the locker room for X-rays, potentially affecting the Cyclones’ status for a possible second-round clash with Kentucky. Jefferson, a 2023-24 second-team All-American, averages 16.9 points, 7.6 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game this season and has helped fuel Iowa State’s campaign with multiple strong performances.
Arizona edged Iowa State in a back-and-forth Big 12 semifinal, with Jaden Bradley hitting the game-winning shot to send the Wildcats to the championship, where they’ll meet Houston or Kansas. Coach Tommy Lloyd praised his team’s resilience and explained the late-game execution as they navigated traps and a high-pressure finish.
Arizona Wildcats defeated the Iowa State Cyclones 82-80 in the Big 12 Tournament semifinals in Kansas City when Jaden Bradley hit a fall-away jumper at the buzzer after Tamin Lipsey’s go-a-ahead 3, sending Arizona to the title game against Houston. Bradley led with 15 points, Dell’Orso buried 26 on six 3s, and Milan Momcilovic paced Iowa State with 28.
Top-seeded Arizona (30-2) faces fifth-seeded Iowa State (27-6) in the Big 12 Tournament semifinal in Kansas City. The game is Friday at 4 p.m. PT on ESPN2, with streaming on ESPN.com and radio on Wildcats Sports Radio 1290 AM. Arizona is a 4.5-point favorite with an over/under of 143.5, and KenPom projects a 63% win probability for the Wildcats, who beat ISU 73-57 on March 2 to clinch the regular-season title. Pregame coverage highlights include court changes, postgame comments and fan discussion.
No. 2 Arizona defeated No. 6 Iowa State 73-57 in Tucson to clinch the outright Big 12 regular-season title. Jaden Bradley scored 17 points and Motiejus Krivas added 13 for the Wildcats, who smothered ISU on defense, holding them to 29% shooting. Iowa State's Tamin Lipsey led all scorers with 17, but Arizona pulled away in the second half after taking a 37-25 halftime lead and extended the margin to secure the win.
No. 6 Iowa State rallied to beat No. 2 Houston 70-67 in Ames, as Nate Heise hit the go-ahead 3 with 1:17 left and Tamin Lipsey secured a late offensive rebound; Kingston Flemings led Houston with 22, while Joshua Jefferson (12) and Heise (11) paced the Cyclones (23-3, 10-3 Big 12) in this top-10 showdown.
Momcilovic's fadeaway 3 late in the second half capped a 20-2 run as No. 5 Iowa State defeated No. 9 Kansas 74-56 at Hilton Coliseum. Momcilovic scored 18 points, Lipsey added two 3s, and Batemon contributed 11 off the bench as ISU forced 10 Kansas turnovers in the first half. Dominykas Pleta's early offensive rebound helped set the tone. Iowa State improves to 22-3, 9-3 Big 12; Kansas drops to 19-6, 9-3. The Cyclones host Houston next.