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No. 8 Iowa State Suffers A Slow Start That Dooms The Cyclones Against No. 16 Kansas

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Basketball

No. 8 Iowa State (17-5, 7-4 Big 12) had its worst scoring output since 2023 on Monday evening, as it fell to No. 16 Kansas (16-6, 7-4 Big 12) on the road by a score of 69-52.

ISU trailed by as many as 23 – its largest deficit of the season – as it put itself behind the eight ball with a 19-point first half, the team's lowest-scoring first stanza since 2023 against Pittsburgh in the NCAA Tournament.  The Cyclones are now in the midst of a three-game losing streak, their longest since 2023.

Kansas held Iowa State to 31 percent shooting from the floor and 14 percent (3-21) from beyond the arc. The Cyclones fixed their turnover woes which had plagued them of late, but the offense's slow start hampered the team.

Three Cyclones finished in double figures, with the trio of Tamin Lipsey, Joshua Jefferson and Keshon Gilbert all ending with 11 points. Dishon Jackson had a game-high nine rebounds and was tied for the team lead in blocks with two – along with both Demarion Watson and Jefferson. Gilbert had a game-high three steals, but Lipsey saw a 21-game steal streak snapped.

Three Jayhawks finished in double figures, with South Dakota State transfer Zeke Mayo leading the way with a game-high 17 points. Mayo was 5-6 from beyond the arc and had eight boards. Hunter Dickinson (14) and Dajuan Harris Jr. (12) also figured with double-figure points. Dickinson and freshman big Flory Bidunga were tied for a game-high in blocks with four apiece.

How it Happened
It was a sluggish start on both sides, as five minutes in, both teams found themselves with seven points, all tied up. Three of Iowa State's eight first-half baskets came in the first five minutes of action.

Kansas would then rattle off a 21-8 run to jump out to a commanding 14-point lead. The Jayhawks pushed their lead to 16, heading into the break up 35-19.

The 19 first-half points were the fewest by ISU in a first half since 2018. Prior to Monday evening, the fewest points Iowa State had scored in a half this season was 33.

Iowa State's second half was much better than the first, as the team shot just below 40 percent from the floor, scoring 33 points. The damage was already done, though, as the 16-point first-half deficit proved to be too much to overcome.

Lipsey had nine of his 11 points in the second stanza, while Jefferson poured in eight of his 11.

Key Performer
Dishon Jackson had another productive game against the Jayhawks in his first trip to Lawrence. After totaling 17 against KU in the first matchup of the season, he had nine points and nine boards in the second meeting.

Notes

  • Tamin Lipsey started his 91st game at Iowa State today, tying with Marcus Fizer (1998-00) for the 19th most in program history.
  • Curtis Jones passed Chris Babb (2012-13) for 12th all-time in program history with 130 career 3-pointers.
    • Started the 40th game of his career. 
  • Dishon Jackson started his 70th game of his career.
  • Demarion Watson appeared in his 75th game today.

Up Next
The Cyclones will be back in action this Saturday, Feb. 8, when they return to Hilton Coliseum to host TCU. ESPN's College Gameday will be in town, and the game has been bumped up an hour from its initial time of noon and will be tipped off at 11 a.m. The weekend matchup with the Horned Frogs will be streamed on ESPN+.