In a commanding display to close out their regular season, the Iowa State Cyclones edged the Kansas State Wildcats 73-57 in Manhattan on Tuesday, March 11. This victory not only capped off the Cyclones’ impressive run but also forced the Wildcats into an early exit by relegating them to start in the first round of the postseason tournament. Importantly, the structure of the tournament guarantees that the winner of the matchup between the Number 12 and Number 13 seeds will secure the coveted No. 5 seed in the Cyclones’ bracket.
The game was highlighted by the stellar performance of Curtis Jones, who led Iowa State by racking up 24 points, five assists, two steals, and five rebounds. The atmosphere was lightened by playful moments during the game; as fouls were called, laughter rippled through the floor. Jones himself even exchanged jokes with Kansas State’s Dug McDaniel, a moment that earned him an offsetting technical foul but did little to diminish his impact on the game.
Adding to the Cyclones’ offensive surge, Joshua Jefferson contributed a team-high seven rebounds along with 14 points, while Dishon Jackson delivered a solid performance with 11 points, three steals, and four rebounds during critical front-court minutes. Tamin chipped in by dishing out four assists and scoring six points, and Nate Heise rounded out the efforts with three steals, two assists, six rebounds, and seven points. Despite encountering foul troubles, Brandton managed to knock down four key goals, showcasing the team’s depth and resilience.
In an interesting aside that underscored the broad spectrum of Kansas State’s athletic leadership, the article briefly noted Chris Klieman—known as the head football coach at Kansas State University Athletics—highlighting the interconnected nature of the university’s sports programs.
Meanwhile, Milan maintained his composure on the court. With star player Keshon Gilbert sidelined, Cade Kelderman stepped in for a brief four-minute stint and managed to notch two assists, proving that even limited minutes can make an impact when the team is firing on all cylinders.
Looking ahead, the Cyclones are set to face the winner of the first-round contest—pitting the Number 12 seed against the Number 13 seed—on Wednesday, March 12 at 11:30 AM CT. The victor of that matchup will then advance to challenge BYU on Thursday, March 13 at 11:30 AM CT. This promising schedule gives Iowa State a strong platform to build further momentum as they transition from a successful regular season into the high-stakes environment of tournament play.
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