Iowa State basketball: Curtis Jones on hot start in win over IU Indy
Iowa State men’s basketball got off to a fast start and defeated IU-Indianapolis after starting the game with a 29-5 run.
AMES − Iowa State left no doubt in its wire-to-wire victory over visiting IU-Indianapolis on Monday, improving to 3-0.
The fifth-ranked Cyclones triumphed in a lopsided 87-52 men’s basketball victory in their final game before next week’s loaded Maui Invitational.
Curtis Jones led with 20 points and six rebounds off the bench. Tamin Lipsey added 17 points, two rebounds, three assists and five steals. Joshua Jefferson had a 16-point, 10-rebound double-double with four assists. Keshon Gilbert chipped in 11 points and eight assists.
Dishon Jackson had six points, 10 rebounds and three blocks.
Here are three takeaways from Monday’s non-conference game at Hilton Coliseum:
Iowa State’s blistering start to the game
The Cyclones won their first two games in lopsided fashion despite starting slow in the opening minutes.
This time was different. Iowa State played one of its crispest eight-minute stretches through the early portion of the season to start the game.
“(Coach) T.J. (Otzelberger) puts a big emphasis on the way we start games, so he let us know before the game that we were going to get to a fast start,” Jones said. “That really propelled us. It felt good. I really feel like it started on defense − we were really taking them out of a lot of things they do and that propelled the offense.”
Offensively, the Cyclones got great ball movement and seemingly couldn’t miss. Jones scored 11 straight points midway through the run and sank each of his first three shots from beyond the arc, including back-to-back 3s that were well beyond NBA range, sending the Hilton crowd into a frenzy.
Iowa State basketball coach TJ Otzelberger on Cyclones balanced attack
Iowa State men’s basketball had four players score in double figures for the second time in its first three games.
“That was crazy, nothing was going through my head,” Jones said of his first-half scoring streak. “If I got the look, I was going to take it. Especially that last one.
“I just let it go with confidence, that’s the biggest thing. Just trying to stay carefree out there.”
Defensively, the Cyclones applied non-stop pressure and never made it easy for the Jaguars. They were active in contesting shots and generating turnovers.
Jefferson ended the run with a fast-break basket on a Jaguar turnover to give Iowa State a 27-5 lead with 11:59 remaining in the half.
“How we want to play is be relentless defensively, pressure the ball, be disruptive and then get out and go and play in transition, share the basketball and play for one another,” Otzelberger said. “Felt like with each game we played, we’ve improved in that area.”
Iowa State basketball coach TJ Otzelberger on Cyclones lineups
Iowa State Cyclones basketball coach TJ Otzelberger discussed experimentation with lineups with a core group of players.
Cyclones dominated both ends of the floor; scoring balance, lockdown defense
For the second time in three games, the Cyclones had four players score in double figures, with Jones, Lipsey, Gilbert and Jefferson.
Jones led the way with his second straight 20-point game. Lipsey made an impact on both ends of the court after a relatively quiet outing against Kansas City, providing 17 points and five steals.
“Tamin was really good tonight − the toughness, on-ball defense, the whole head of the snake setting the tone,” Otzelberger said of Lipsey. “How he guarded the ball, how he pressured the basketball, how disruptive he was − I was just really pleased with how Tamin played tonight. He had the focus and the mindset like he’s going to play with great purpose and he showed up in a big way.”
Gilbert had another double-digit scoring night and was effective at distributing the ball, while Jefferson had his first double-double in a Cyclone jersey.
“Shows how very deep we play, we play 8-9 guys every game and we just expect everyone to go out there and play as hard as they can,” Jefferson said. “It’s going to be anybody’s night, so just continue to share the ball and play.”
The Cyclones shut down the perimeter defensively. IU-Indianapolis loves the 3-point shot. According to KenPom, more than half of its shots this season have come from beyond the arc. The Jaguars generate 45.8% of their points from 3-point range, which is the eighth-highest rate in the country.
The Jaguars were limited to shooting just 9-of-28 (32.1%) from long range. In the second half, they were 4-of-15 (26.7%) from deep.
Iowa State also forced 19 turnovers, which turned into 26 points on the other end. The Cyclones were active, alert and unrelenting.
Jackson, while better known for his scoring punch in the frontcourt, also had three blocks.
Iowa State basketball’s Curt Jones on facing Auburn, Maui Invitational
Iowa State basketball guard Curtis Jones shared his thoughts on playing top five-ranked Auburn and competing in the Maui Invitational.
Onward to Maui
Monday’s contest was the final tune-up for the Cyclones in what has been a spaced-out start to the season, with only one game a week on the last three Mondays.
No disrespect to Mississippi Valley State, Kansas City or IU-Indianapolis, but the Cyclones’ first true test will come on Monday, Nov. 25 at the Maui Invitational in Hawaii.
Iowa State will begin the tournament with a quarterfinal matchup against another top-five team, No. 3 Auburn. Then the Cyclones will face either No. 12 North Carolina or Dayton.
The tournament also features two-time reigning national champion UConn, as well as Memphis, Colorado and Michigan State.
“It’s very exciting, those are the games that are the most fun,” Jones said. “We went through a lot last year, you know, the Big 12 in itself. It’s going to be fun to play another top-five team. Really just looking forward to it. We’re going to prepare this week hard, and we’ll be ready for Monday.”
Eugene Rapay covers Iowa State athletics for the Des Moines Register. Contact Eugene at erapay@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @erapay5.
