18-03-2025
#3 Cyclones focused on NCAA Tournament despite heading into play without Keshon Gilbert due to injury
AMES, Iowa (KCAU) – Iowa State has experienced plenty of peaks and valley this season, continuing its climb into March in the NCAA Tournament.
'With Keshon, we decided that he needs to focus on his rehab and getting his body back right so he won't be available as we move forward,' Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger said.
ISU earned the #3 seed in the South Region, earning its 24th NCAA Tournament bid. Iowa State has reached 11 NCAA Tournament since 2012, one of only ten in the field to accomplish the feat.
Even after a crushing loss to BYU in the Big 12 Tournament, the Cyclones are focused on the prize ahead.
'We're a group that everybody knows the role. Everybody's playing with great purpose. Guys are having fun out there together and it's exciting. So I'm confident that you know, our best is in front of us and will continue to, you know, continue to lean into that,' Otzelberger said.
'It's definitely exciting just because obviously it's exciting for me to go back home, but all the fans, too, I mean, that's a five hour drive. So a lot of fans can make it probably a home court advantage for us. So I think it's exciting for our fans too,' Iowa State forward Milan Momcilovic added.
The Cyclones will head to Milwaukee to face Atlantic Sun champion #14 Lipscomb. This is the first meeting between the the two teams Iowa State defeated the Bison in Ames December of 2011.
Lipscomb was the top defensive team in their conference, allowing 67.3 points per game this season, that mark would rank fourth in the Big 12.
Tip-off is slated for Friday at 12:30 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
