Recap and highlights: Iowa State outlasts Washington State 67-56, ends Cougar’s magical season in round of 32
Washington State made a habit of proving people wrong, but finally met its match in the round of 32.
The second-seeded Iowa State Cyclones proved too much for the seventh-seeded Cougars on Saturday, pulling away for a 67-56 win in Omaha, Nebraska.
A stout WSU defense that held ISU to 1 of 13 shooting to start the game gave way in the second half. Iowa State finished 7 of 14 on 3-pointers and turned 13 Cougars turnovers into 21 points.
WSU took an early lead behind a stellar first half from Jaylen Wells. The Division II transfer carried the Cougars with 16 points in the first half, but cooled off from there and finished with 20.
Still, this Washington State group will be remembered for some time. Picked to finish 10th in the Pac-12 preseason poll, the Cougars finished second in the conference and returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2008.
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Second half
0:17 – ISU 65, WSU 54: Jones breaks away for a dunk to cap the ISU win. Cougars first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2008 will end in the second round.
3:40 – ISU 59, WSU 48: Cyclones get a layup off of a Rice turnovers. Cougs getting close to desperation mode.
5:22 – ISU 56, WSU 48: Chinyelu hits a layup and the Cyclones call a timeout. All coming down to this for WSU, which needs to make a run.
7:39 – ISU 51, WSU 44: Cougars keep fighting, will have two free throws on the other side of the U8 media timeout. Momcilovic hit a jumper to keep ISU’s lead in tact.
Wells leads WSU with 18 points, but he only has two since halftime. Rice up to 11.
11:12 – ISU 45, WSU 37: Lipsey, Jones and Momcilovic all hit 3-pointers to give the Cyclones their largest lead of the game and the Cougars need a timeout. Shots starting to fall for ISU after a tough first half.
15:46 – ISU 36, WSU 31: Gilbert converts a basket plus a free throw at the U16 media timeout. Cyclones with a 9-4 advantage since halftime. Cougs ball after the break.
18:24 – ISU 31, WSU 27: Tough start for the Cougs, who give up four-straight points on a couple of turnovers and Jones is called for a third foul. WSU calls a timeout.
Halftime
Iowa State got a late layup to tie the score at 27-all with Washington State after a physical first half.
Iowa State shot 31% from the field, while WSU shot 41%.
Jaylen Wells put the Cougars on his back, scoring 16 points.
The Cyclones had a more balanced approach and crept back into the game after opening 1 of 13 from the field.
First half
4:00 – WSU 21, ISU 19: Wells up to 12 points at the U4 media timeout. Cougs have the ball, next foul will be bonus for both teams.
5:12 – WSU 19, ISU 17: Cyclones breifly take the lead, but Wells grabs it back with a 3-pointer. He’s providing most of WSU’s offense with 10 points.
8:00 – WSU 14, ISU 8: Gilbert is called for a foul at the U8 media timeout, after the Cyclones get a couple of inside shots to fall.
Cougars struggling from outside, still letting it fly, 2 of 10 on 3-pointers.
11:34 – WSU 11, ISU 4: Cougars suffocating ISU, limiting the Cyclones to 1 of 13 shooting. Haven’t taken full advantage, but have a good lead at the U12 media timeout.
Wells leads with five points, Jones adds four. Cougs 1 of 6 on 3-pointers.
15:55 – WSU 7, ISU 0: Great start for the Cougars, who lock down the Cyclones and start on a 7-0 run at the U16 media timeout. Iowa State misses its first seven attempts.
Wells has five points, Jones adds two.
Pregame
The Washington State men’s basketball team has been proving people wrong all season. Who’s to say they stop now?
The seventh-seeded Cougars (25-9) take on No. 2 seed Iowa State (28-7) today in a NCAA Tournament round of 32 game in Omaha, Nebraska. Tipoff is set for 3:10 p.m. on TNT.
The Cyclones, winners of the Big 12 Tournament championship, are 6½-point favorites.
Iowa State ran away with a win over South Dakota State in the first round, while WSU earned a hard-fought win over Drake.
A Cougars win would give them their first Sweet 16 berth since 2008, also the last time they made the tournament. That’s WSU’s only Sweet 16 appearance, the only over time they advanced further was in 1941 under a difference format.
Iowa State at a glance
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