MILWAUKEE, Wis. – Tyrese Hunter connected on seven triples has he dropped 23 points to lift Iowa State (21-12, 14-5 Big 12) over LSU (22-12, 9-9 SEC), 59-54, in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament Friday in Milwaukee. The Cyclones advance to the Second Round for the first time since 2017.
Hunter’s seven treys, none bigger than his make with 19 seconds left to ice the game, were the second-most ever by a Cyclone in an NCAA Tournament game. He is the second player in NCAA Tournament history with seven 3-pointers and five steals in a game, joining only Stephen Curry.
Hunter talked about the shot in the post game press conference.
Izaiah Brockington added 19 points, four rebounds and three steals as the only other Cyclone in double figures.
Iowa State registered a season-high 15 steals and scored 22 points off turnovers while limiting LSU to eight points in the same category. The Cyclones won the game on the perimeter as the Tigers outscored ISU, 20-6, in the paint.
Head Coach TJ Otzelberger on his teams performance.
It was tight in the early goings as ISU gained a slim 10-9 advantage at the under-12 media timeout. An offensive board and put-back by Tristan Enaruna broke Iowa State’s field goal drought with 10:46 remaining in the half.
The bucket sparked a 14-2 Cyclone run – which included a 5-of-5 stretch from the field and a trey from Hunter off an inbound play as the shot clock expired – to put ISU in front, 24-12. Iowa State held LSU to 26 percent shooting in the opening period but was scoreless over the final 6:37 as the Tigers pulled back to within five (24-19) at the halfway point.
The Tigers tied the game at 31-31 five minutes into the second half, but Hunter’s third triple of the game and a midrange jumper from Brockington resulted in five quick points for the Cyclones. A steal and a two-hand slam from Caleb Grill prompted an LSU timeout at the 11:20 mark with Iowa State on top, 41-35.
Iowa State stretched its lead to 11 at 50-39, but an 11-1 Tiger run narrowed the margin to one with 2:13 to go. The Cyclones would go on to score eight of the game’s final twelve points, highlighted by Hunter’s fifth and sixth 3-pointers of the second half, to outlast LSU, 59-54.
Iowa State the 11 seed will play No. 3 seed Wisconsin in the second round on Sunday. The Badgers eliminated No. 14 Colgate 67-60 Friday night. Sunday’s tip off is set for 5:10.
