Upcoming Event: Men's Basketball at Creighton (Exhibition) on October 17, 2025 at 7:30 PM
7:30 PM
Men's Basketball
Creighton (Exhibition)
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Iowa State University Athletics
Monday, December 30
Boulder, Colo.
8:00 PM
Iowa State University
79
at
69
Colorado
No. 3 Cyclones Open Big 12 Play with 10-Point Road Win
12.30.2024 | Men's Basketball
BOULDER, Colo. – For the first time since March 3, 2005, No. 3 Iowa State (11-1, 1-0 Big 12) walked out of Boulder with a win, defeating Colorado (9-3, 0-1 Big 12) for the second time this season and earning a conference-opening victory, 79-69.
The Cyclones saw their 11-game streak of scoring 80-plus points snapped, falling one point shy of the mark. The loss for Colorado is just its second in its last 26 home contests. ISU has now beaten the Buffaloes in three straight appearances, marking the first three-game winning streak over CU since 1995-96.
A back-and-forth game for the first 30 minutes, Iowa State wrestled away control in the 31st minute and never looked back. Junior Joshua Jefferson had a record-setting performance for the Cyclones, as the Saint Mary's transfer snatched eight steals, tying teammate Tamin Lipsey for the most-ever in a single game. His eight steals are the most ever in a conference contest by any Cyclone.
Besides his disruptive defense, Jefferson scored 13 and had seven rebounds. Joining Jefferson in double figures were Curtis Jones (20), Keshon Gilbert (14) and Tamin Lipsey (10). Dishon Jackson went for eight points and six boards, while Brandton Chatfield had nine points and seven boards – both were the most in his Cyclone career.
Missing its highest-scoring player from the previous meeting, Andrej Jakimovski, Colorado needed others to step up. Julian Hammond III was a wrecking ball for CU, getting to the rim a handful of times and burying three triples to earn a game-high 21 points. Colorado's other guard, RJ Smith, was the only other Buff in double figures (14).
The Cyclones struggled from deep on the night, shooting just 22 percent, but made up for it with their efforts both on the defensive end and on the glass. ISU forced 19 turnovers and scored 24 points off of them. The Cyclones also outrebounded Colorado by seven (40-33) and had 20 offensive boards for 21 second-chance points.
How it Happened
The first half of play followed a similar game flow to the teams' first meeting this year at the Maui Invitational – a back-and-forth first half that saw ISU distance itself before the horn.
Colorado led for just about seven minutes in the first stanza, racing out to a quick 5-0 lead. The Cyclones took their first lead at the 16:04 mark, thanks to a Chatfield dunk off a nice Nate Heise find, to go up 6-5.
With 6:32 left in the first half, CU would extend its lead to four, but the Cyclones finished the period with a purpose and would go on an 18-8 run to close the half. At the break, Jones led ISU with 10 points, while Gilbert had eight and Jefferson had seven.
The Cyclones continued their momentum into the second half, racing out to a 12-point lead by the 18:14 mark, punctuated with a Jackson slam. From the end of the first half through the first two minutes of the second half, ISU went on a 27-8 run.
The Basket is still Shaking. #Cyclones | #C5C | @NoLimitDO pic.twitter.com/OzykBU1Ii5
— Iowa State Men's Basketball (@CycloneMBB) December 31, 2024
After threatening to run away with it, ISU saw Colorado punch back. The Buffs sunk four triples in a three-minute span to turn the tables and come all the way back to take the lead at the 13:58 mark. Colorado's momentum would carry it to a five-point lead – its largest of the night – but the Cyclones had a rally in them still.
After blowing a 12-point lead, the Cyclones battled back from the five-point deficit to overtake CU with just over ten minutes remaining. After a Buff bucket gave the home team the lead again, ISU wrangled control away for good with just under nine minutes left where it would ride out the victory.
Key Performer
There's no other way to put it … Brandton Chatfield was an absolute menace on the offensive glass for the Cyclones. Chatfield pulled in seven boards, all on the offensive side, to lead the team in both categories. His hustle created multiple second chances for the Cyclones and also helped him earn his most points in an ISU uniform with nine.
Notes
- Iowa State is now 44-73 all-time in conference openers, including a 13-16 record in Big 12 openers. Otzelberger is now 2-2 in conference openers at Iowa State.
- The Cyclones are now 6-2 against Colorado in conference openers.
- Head coach T.J. Otzelberger ties Tim Floyd for seventh in program history with his 81st win at ISU.
- He also ties Floyd and Bill Strannigan for eighth in program history with 30 conference wins.
- Otz's 81st win at ISU is tied with Floyd for the fourth-most by a coach in his first four years as a Cyclone.
- Iowa State is now 22-1 under Otzelberger in December, the most wins in the country.
- Joshua Jefferson has now made over 175 career field goals.
- Tamin Lipsey eclipsed 800 career points and now has 808.
- He is now two steals shy of sixth all-time at ISU.
- Curtis Jones now has over 600 points in his ISU career.
- Keshon Gilbert sunk his 200th free throw in an ISU jersey.
- Brandton Chatfield blocked his 100th career shot on the evening.
Up Next
Iowa State will return to the confines of Hilton Coliseum to welcome the 25th-ranked Baylor Bears for the home Big 12 opener this Saturday, Jan. 4. ISU will honor the 1999-00 and 2000-01 teams at the game. Saturday's contest will tip off at 1 p.m. and will be nationally televised on CBS.
Players Mentioned
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