KEY POINTS
- No. 7 Iowa State enters the matchup following a historic 102-51 win over UCF.
- The Cyclones set a Big 12 tournament record by shooting 70.4 percent from the field.
- No. 16 Texas Tech advanced by defeating No. 22 Arizona 84-75 in the second round.
The Iowa State Cyclones carry immense momentum into the Big 12 tournament quarterfinals on Thursday. They are scheduled to face the Texas Tech Red Raiders at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City. This high-stakes matchup features two programs currently ranked in the national top 20.
Iowa State delivered one of the most dominant performances in tournament history on Wednesday. They overwhelmed UCF in a 102-51 victory that rewrote the conference record books. The Cyclones became the first team to shoot over 70 percent in a Big 12 tournament game. Their offensive efficiency left no room for a UCF comeback from the opening tip.
Curtis Jones led the scoring surge for Iowa State with 21 points off the bench. He connected on five of his seven attempts from three-point range. Star guard Tamin Lipsey also played a nearly perfect game with 17 points and seven assists. The Cyclones finished the contest with 27 total assists on 38 made field goals.
Texas Tech secured its spot in the quarterfinals with a resilient win over Arizona. The Red Raiders overcame an early deficit to win 84-75 behind a strong defensive effort. They limited Arizona’s high-powered offense during the final ten minutes of play. This victory marked Texas Tech’s third win over a ranked opponent this season.
The regular season series between these two teams resulted in a split. Texas Tech won the first meeting in Lubbock with a narrow three-point margin. Iowa State responded with a double-digit victory in Ames during the month of February. Both teams have shown the ability to adapt to different styles of play.
Defense remains the primary focus for Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger. The Cyclones currently rank among the national leaders in forced turnovers and steals. They utilized a full-court press to disrupt UCF’s rhythm throughout the second round. Texas Tech must protect the ball effectively to avoid giving Iowa State easy transition points.
The Red Raiders rely heavily on the scoring duo of Pop Isaacs and Joe Toussaint. Isaacs leads the team in scoring and has a reputation for hitting difficult shots late in games. Toussaint provides veteran leadership and elite on-ball defense in the backcourt. Their matchup against Lipsey and Jones will likely decide the outcome of the game.
The winner of this contest will move into the Big 12 semifinals on Friday night. Iowa State is looking to secure its first conference tournament title since 2019. Texas Tech hopes to return to the championship game for the first time in several seasons. Both programs are currently projected to receive high seeds in the upcoming NCAA tournament.
