OMAHA – Each every now and then, from someplace excessive atop the ground of the CHI Well being Middle, a single piece of confetti would wiggle free and float all the way down to the courtroom.
It was virtually as if the constructing itself couldn’t deal with the nervousness, stress and stress of the NCAA Event.
Iowa State, although, had no hassle within the crucible.
The second-seeded Cyclones shrugged off a depressing offensive begin with poise and its menacing protection to defeat No. 7 Washington State, 67-56, to advance to the Candy 16 for the second time in three seasons.
Iowa State (29-7) will head to Boston for the East Area semifinals to face both No. 3 Illinois or No. 11 Duquesne at TD Backyard on Thursday.
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One other win would put the Cyclones of their first Elite 8 since 2000 and a win away from their first Last 4 since 1944.
Tamin Lipsey, enjoying with a sore non-shooting shoulder, scored 15 factors whereas including 5 rebounds and 4 assists for the Cyclones. Curtis Jones had 14 factors whereas each Keshon Gilbert and Milan Momcilovic added 10.
The Cyclones shot 40 p.c from the ground whereas making 7 of 14 from 3-point vary.
Washington State (24-10) shot 43 p.c from the ground and 23 p.c from deep. The Cougars turned it over 13 occasions, resulting in 21 Cyclone factors.
Iowa State trailed by as many as eight factors within the first half and put itself at risk of falling behind large early.
After a scintillating offensive begin Thursday towards South Dakota State during which the Cyclones made their first 9 photographs, Iowa State went within the precise other way towards the Cougars by lacking their first 10 photographs from the ground.
Nonetheless, the Cyclones’ protection was capable of hold Washington State from working away, and the 2 groups went into halftime tied at 27.
The second half, nonetheless, noticed Iowa State take quick management with the Cyclones scoring the primary six factors of the half to take a lead they’d by no means relinquish.
Now Iowa State heads into the regional semifinals because the higher-rated seed for the primary time since 2014.
The Cyclones will head to New England, the place No. 1 total seed UConn could also be lurking, on an absolute tear. They’ve received 5 straight video games, all by double-digits, together with a 28-point thrashing of top-ranked Houston within the Huge 12 Event championship recreation.
Travis Hines covers Iowa State College sports activities for the Des Moines Register and Ames Tribune. Contact him at thines@amestrib.com or (515) 284-8000. Follow him on X at @TravisHines21.