Lipscomb vs Iowa State live score: March Madness first round updates, odds, how to watch
Lipscomb basketball was among the nation's first teams to earn spot in the 2025 March Madness brackets when the Bisons won the Atlantic Sun Conference tournament championship on March 9 securing an automatic qualifier berth.
The Nashville school became only the second NCAA tournament berth for Lipscomb (25-9), a 14 seed, which moved from NAIA to NCAA Division I in 2003.
No. 3 seed Iowa State (24-9) is far more familiar with the NCAA tournament making its 24th appearance and its fourth straight. The Cyclones advanced to the Sweet 16 in 2022 and 2024. They've made it to the Elite Eight twice (1944 and 2000) and Final Four once (1944).
Lipscomb leans heavily on ASUN player of the year Jacob Ognacevic (20.1 ppg. and 8.1 rpg.), but the Bisons have talent around the 6-foot-8 power forward in Will Pruitt (13.2 ppg.), Joe Anderson (12.5 ppg) and Gyasi Powell (11.6 ppg).
Iowa State is led by Curtis Jones (17.1 ppg.), an AP All-American honorable mention guard who scored 22 first-half points and 31 overall against BYU in the Big 12 Tournament quarterfinal game.
Cyclone forward Joshua Jefferson (13.0 points and 7.4 rebounds) could give Lipscomb more trouble than Curtis with his powerful 6-foot-9, 240-pound frame. Jefferson, a Saint Mary's transfer, has been the only Cyclone to start every game this season.
Start time: 12:30 p.m. CT
TV info: TNT
Location: Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Iowa State: The Cyclones were hampered by injuries down the stretch of the regular season and into the Big 12 conference tournament and lost four of their last seven games. They see the NCAA tournament as an opportunity to reset even without guard Keshon Gilbert, the Cyclone's second-leading scorer who will miss the remainder of the season with a strained groin.
Lipscomb: The Bisons have embraced the underdog role, but are winless this season against Power 4 conference opponents, losing to Arkansas (76-60) and Kentucky (97-68). Coach Lennie Acuff spent the week stressing to his players that if they are able to stay close with Iowa State into the second half they will have the opportunity to win at the end. The problem with that is Lipscomb trimmed Arkansas' lead to four in the final seven minutes, but still could not stop the Razorbacks from pulling away at the end.
Spread: +14.5 Lipscomb
Over/under: 143.5 points
Moneyline: +800 Lipscomb
Iowa State 75, Lipscomb 61: With every key player back from last year's team, which posted a 20-12 record, along with the return of Ognacevic from injury, Lipscomb came into the season with high expectations. Those expectations were realized when Ognacevic picked right up where he left off in 2023. Iowa State, however, is a high-scoring power conference team with more talent and size than Lipscomb will be able to handle.
IOWA STATE VS LIPSCOMB MATCHUP: Lipscomb basketball vs Iowa State prediction: Our pick for 2025 NCAA Tournament first round
Iowa State: The Cyclones expect to have guard Tamin Lipsey back after sustaining a groin injury in the conference tournament in a game against Cincinnati. Lipsey returned to practice Wednesday in a limited role. They will be without fellow starting guard Keshon Gilbert, who is out for the remainder of the season with a strained groin.
Lipscomb: Parttime starting forward Dylan Faulkner missed time in January with a foot injury, but has recovered and is fully healthy.
IOWA STATE
PPG: 80.4
PPG allowed: 68.1
FG% 48.0
3PT%: 35.8
KenPom ranking: No. 10
LIPSCOMB
PPG: 79.3
PPG allowed: 67.3
FG% 47.3
3PT%: 35.9
KenPom ranking: No. 82
The past five games of Iowa State's 2024-25 basketball season. For the full schedule, click here
March 1
Iowa State 84, Arizona 67
March 4
BYU 88, Iowa State 85 2OT
March 8
Iowa State 73, Kansas State 57
March 12
Iowa State 76, Cincinnati 56
March 13
BYU 96, Iowa State 92
Date 21
Iowa State vs. Lipscomb, NCAA Tournament
The past five games of Lipscomb's 2024-25 basketball season. For the full schedule, click here
Feb. 24
Lipscomb 95, Austin Peay 78
Feb. 26
Lipscomb 78, Central Arkansas 60
March 3
Lipscomb 84, Central Arkansas 66
March 6
Lipscomb 81, Queens 75
March 9
Lipscomb 76, North Alabama 65
March 21
Lipscomb vs. Iowa State (NCAA Tournament)
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Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on X @MikeOrganWriter.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Lipscomb vs Iowa State live score, NCAA bracket updates: March Madness
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New Orleans Pelicans: Kon Knueppel, forward, Duke The 6-7, 217-pound Knueppel is an efficient scorer who was named ACC Tournament MVP while Flagg was sidelined by injury. Knueppel shot 40.6% on 3-pointers and ranked sixth in Division I by shooting 91.4% at the foul line. The freshman also had 10 games with at least four assists to show potential as a secondary playmaker for a Final Four team. 8. Brooklyn Nets: Khaman Maluach, center, Duke With four first-round picks, the Nets could start with a long-term bet on the 7-1, 253-pound South Sudanese big man to hit his potential as a rim-protecting lob threat. Maluach had the combine's biggest wingspan (7-6 3/4) and showed stretches of capably defending guards on switches in his lone college season. He shot 71.2% largely on dunks and putbacks, so he'll need time to refine a raw offensive game. 9. Toronto Raptors: Kasparas Jakucionis, guard/forward, Illinois The 6-5 freshman has shown an all-around floor game. He averaged 15 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists as a freshman, including one run of six straight 20-point games that featured matchups against three ranked teams — including then-No. 1 Tennessee. He also had four double-digit rebounding games and eight games with at least seven assists. 10. Houston Rockets: Derik Queen, center, Maryland The 6-9, 248-pounder earned a spot in March Madness lore by banking in a buzzer-beating runner to beat Colorado State and reach the NCAA Sweet 16. The nimble move illustrated the still-developing upside for a skilled freshman who nearly averaged a double-double (16.5 points, 9.0 rebounds). 11. Portland Trail Blazers: Collin Murray-Boyles, forward, South Carolina The sophomore has a strong frame (6-7, 240) that could allow him to work some on the wing and bang inside with a nearly 7-1 wingspan. He contributed as a capable scorer (16.8), rebounder (8.3) and defender (1.3 blocks, 1.5 steals). 12. 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He has the ability to run the court and attack off the dribble, averaging 12.4 points and 5.3 rebounds in Germany this season. 15. Oklahoma City Thunder: Thomas Sorber, center, Georgetown The 6-9, 263-pound freshman offers a sturdy interior presence with a 7-6 wingspan, proving capable of operating in the post or in traffic while also flashing face-up skills. Sorber, 19, also averaged 2.0 blocks to offer defensive potential. It would help for him to improve his 3-point shot (6 of 37, 16.2%) but he would be a luxury boost up front for a team that won a league-best 68 games and reached the NBA Finals. 16. Orlando Magic: Jase Richardson, guard, Michigan State The son of former NBA guard Jason Richardson is small (6-1, 178) for a combo guard, and he mentioned after a recent workout with Portland that he's working to prove he can play the point. Shooting 41.2% on 3s is enticing regardless. 17. Minnesota Timberwolves: Rasheer Fleming, forward/center, Saint Joseph's The 6-8, 232-pound Fleming increased his output in three college seasons and brings a sturdy frame to the NBA. He averaged 14.7 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks, and has improved his 3-pointing from 31.3% through his first two college seasons to 39% last year. He also had one of the combine's biggest wingspans at better than 7-5. 18. Washington Wizards: Egor Demin, guard/forward, BYU A top international prospect from Russia, the 19-year-old Demin spent a season at BYU as a playmaker with size (6-9, 199). That could allow teams to run offense through him as a strong passer who had 15 assists against two turnovers in 54 minutes of work during his last two NCAA Tournament games for a Sweet 16 team. 19. Brooklyn Nets: Ben Saraf, guard, Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany) After grabbing Maluach at eight, the Nets could bolster their perimeter with the 6-6, 201-pound lefty from Israel. Saraf has proven adept as a scoring playmaker, averaging 12.8 points and 4.6 assists this season in Germany. 20. Miami Heat: Liam McNeeley, forward, UConn The 6-7, 215-pound McNeeley jumped right in as a freshman starter for the two-time reigning NCAA champion Huskies and projects as a floor-stretching wing, including with 22 points in the NCAAs against eventual champion Florida and a 38-point showing against then-No. 24 Creighton. 21. Utah Jazz: Danny Wolf, forward/center, Michigan The 6-11, 252-pound junior thrived in moving from the Ivy League (Yale) to the Big Ten as a low-post presence, averaging 13.2 points and 9.7 rebounds while ranking among Division I leaders with 15 double-doubles. He also showed the ability to step outside (38 made 3s in 37 games). 22. Atlanta Hawks: Nolan Traore, guard, Saint-Quentin BB (France) The 6-5, 175-pound guard from France is a scoring playmaker and has been regarded as a possible lottery prospect. The 19-year-old had previously drawn recruiting interest from programs like Duke, Alabama and Gonzaga before opting to remain in his home country last year. 23. Indiana Pacers: Cedric Coward, guard, Washington State The 6-5, 213-pound Coward has taken an interesting path. He started his career at Division III Willamette and spent two seasons at Eastern Washington, then played six games at Washington State due to injury and planned to transfer to Duke. But he stayed in the draft after testing well at the combine, including the best wingspan (7-2+) and standing reach (8-10) among guards, a 38.5-inch max vertical leap, and solid shooting-drill showings. 24. Oklahoma City Thunder: Nique Clifford, guard, Colorado State The 6-5, 202-pound Clifford took his time developing as a five-year player, though the 23-year-old is coming off a huge year (18.9 points, 9.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists). He also improved his outside shot, going from making 33.8% over three seasons at Colorado to 37.7% on higher volume in two years with the Rams. 25. Orlando Magic: Walter Clayton Jr., guard, Florida The 6-2, 199-pound combo guard was an AP first-team All-American and Final Four's most outstanding player in the Gators' national title run. That included monster tournament performances — notably the frantic comeback against Texas Tech in the Elite Eight and a career-best scoring effort against Auburn in the Final Four — that bode well for a gamer who repeatedly rose to the challenge. 26. Brooklyn Nets: Will Riley, guard/forward, Illinois The freshman from Canada worked as a top reserve averaging 12.6 points. Riley, 19, has potential as a scorer and passer with size (6-8) as he refines his game and develops physically (186 pounds). 27. Brooklyn Nets: Drake Powell, guard/forward, North Carolina The 6-6, 195-pound freshman offers athleticism, outside shooting (37.9% on 3s) and defensive potential. Powell led all combine players in standing vertical leap (37.5 inches, 4+ inches more than anyone else) and max vertical (43.0) to go with a 7-foot wingspan. 28. Boston Celtics: Maxime Raynaud, center, Stanford The fourth-year senior from France is a skilled 7-footer who can step outside and space the floor. He joined Flagg as the only unanimous AP all-ACC first-team picks after averaging 20.2 points and 10.6 rebounds while making 67 3s in 35 games. 29. Phoenix Suns: Joan Beringer, center, Cedevita Olimpija (Slovenia) Beringer, who turns 19 in November, projects as a mobile threat who can work in the pick-and-roll and as a lob threat. The French big man needs time to strengthen a lean 6-11, 230-pound frame. 30. Los Angeles Clippers: Hugo Gonzalez, guard/forward, Real Madrid (Spain) The 19-year-old with a 6-6, 205-pound frame has flashed shooting range and the ability to attack off the dribble. He earned MVP honors after helping the Under-18 Real Madrid team win last year's Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament (ANGT) in Berlin. ___ Also considered (in alphabetical order): Kam Jones, guard, Marquette; Ryan Kalkbrenner, center, Creighton; Noah Penda, forward, Le Mans Sarthe Basket (France); Hansen Yang, center, Qingdao (China). ___ The AP NBA mock draft analyzes the top prospects who have declared for the league's annual event. More AP NBA: ___ AP Basketball Writers Tim Reynolds, Aaron Beard, Brian Mahoney and John Marshall contributed to this report. ___ AP NBA: recommended
