Keshon Gilbert leads Iowa State’s balanced attack with 15 points in 77-65 win over UCF

Orlando, Fla. (AP) -keshon Gilbert scored 15 points, and Joshua Jefferson had 13 points and eight rebounds to lead No. 10 Iowa State to a 77-65 win over UCF on Tuesday night.

Tamin Lipsey scored 11 points and Curtis Jones scored 10 from the bench for Iowa State (19-5, 9-4 BIG 12).

Keyshawn Hall led the knights (13-11, 4-9) with 22 points and eight rebounds. Guard Mikey Williams had 14 points from the bench.

Cyclones are usually dependent on their score to win, but they put the defensive clamps on the knights and hold one of the big 12’s highest scored teams to 41.5% shooting from the field including 6 for 26 (23.1%) from 3- point range.

Takeaways

Iowa State: Cyclones put their three-game losing streaks further in the rearview mirror, after a 30-point home win over TCU last weekend with a solid road gain at UCF.

UCF: Knights’ NCAA Tournament -Hope fades rapidly as they lost their fifth straight fight and another chance to get a win over a ranked opponent. They went 0-5 towards current ranked conference opponents where no one was left on the schedule.

Keying moment

Iowa State had an answer to UCF races throughout the other half and answered Williams’ 3-Pointer with a 3 from Nate Heise early in the second half to open a double-digit lead. Then midway through the second half, Knights Guard Darius Johnson missed a layup that led directly to a runout for Gilbert and an 11-point lead.

Key State

Despite the presence of UCFS 7-FOD CENTER MUSTAPHA THIAM, IOWA State dominated the paint. Cyclones grabbed 11 offensive rebounds for 15 second chance points and outscored Knights 38-34 in the paint.

Up next

Iowa State: Cyclones return home on Saturday to meet Cincinnati.

UCF: The knights play on Colorado Saturday.

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