Iowa State basketball remains perfect with rout of Grambling State
AMES – Iowa State finished its four-game homestand to start the season in the same way it had in the previous three contests.
With complete dominance.
The Cyclones had no trouble Sunday with Grambling State in a 92-37 victory at Hilton Coliseum.
Iowa State improved to 4-0 with no games closer than 31 points ahead of what will almost certainly be a tougher task later this week at the ESPN Events Invitational in Kissimmee, Fla. The Cyclones open Thursday against VCU, and then will face either Boise State or Virginia Tech.
Penn State, Texas A&M, Butler and Florida Atlantic, a Final Four team a year ago, are on the other side of the bracket.
The Cyclones led the Tigers 32-4 just after the midway point of the first half and eventually would take an insurmountable 48-14 lead into halftime.
"It’s so important to come out with a tremendous sense of urgency," Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger said, "and we’ve been fortunate that our guys have been locked in defensively, getting stops and playing for each other on the other end."
Tamin Lipsey led the way for the Cyclones with 17 points and nine assists. Omaha Biliew and Curtis Jones both had 14 points while Milan Momcilovic added 13 points, three rebounds and two assists.
Grambling State shot 28.6 percent from the floor while turning it over 21 times.
While Iowa State’s first four opponents were wholly overmatched, it was still an impressive showing for the Cyclones, who sport a vastly different roster than the one that reached the NCAA Tournament a year ago.
The Cyclones set out this offseason to improve their offense while not sacrificing the stifling defense that had been the calling card of their success in the first two years under Otzelberger. The early returns suggest Iowa State was able to do exactly that, though to what extent will need to be proven against better competition, starting this week.
"It’s going to be our first time away from Hilton so it’s going to be different," Lipsey said, "but we’re not going to treat it any different. We’re going to go in with the same energy, the same mindset, and it’s going to be a lot of fun.
"It’s going to be a learning opportunity for all of us, and we’re expecting big things."
More: Iowa State basketball hosts final tune-up before degree of difficulty increases
Still, even adjusting for degree of difficulty, Iowa State exceeded even the rosiest of projections through four games, setting up what will be a consequential tournament in the Orlando area as the Cyclones look to bolster their NCAA Tournament resume with wins that will likely resonate with the selection committee months from now.
"You’re not going to play well by worrying about what’s coming at you down the road," Otzelberger said. "You're going to play well by doing what you can in that moment to be the best player you can, the best teammate you can.
"It’s so important that they stay in that moment. This isn’t about going on a trip. It’s not about three games. It's not about going to Disney. It’s about getting mentally focused to have a great practice tomorrow and the next day to prepare for our opponent as that game comes on Thursday.
"That’s where we’re going to keep our mindset."
Hason Ward suffers an injury
On an otherwise breezy day, there was some bad news for Iowa State with the announcement that forward Hason Ward will miss extended time after surgery to correct a left foot injury.
"He had a stress reaction in his foot, and there are different ways to go with it," Otzelberger said. "It was his choice to have a screw put in, which gives him the best chance to return this season and be able to play meaningful basketball, hopefully in January."
Ward's expected recovery time is 6-to-8 weeks, which would put him on the brink of being available in time for the Cyclones' Big 12 opener on Jan. 6 at Oklahoma.
"It was one of those things if he would have continued on it, it was probably a matter of time until it could have gotten worse," Otzelberger said. "Proud of him. Made a great choice for himself."
The 6-foot-9, 230-pound senior started Iowa State’s first three games of the season, averaging 4.7 points and 4 rebounds in 17 minutes per game.
Robert Jones, a 6-foot-10 senior, replaced Ward in the starting lineup against Grambling State.
A familiar face returns
Given the lopsided score, one of the more interesting aspects of Sunday’s contest was the return of former Cyclone Terrence Lewis.
The Milwaukee native played three seasons at Iowa State, 2017-20, accumulating 322 points over 71 games. He was a part of the 2018-19 Cyclones team that won the Big 12 Tournament and appeared in the NCAA Tournament.
It’s been a long college basketball journey for Lewis, who initially committed to Steve Prohm’s Cyclones in August 2016.
He initially left Iowa State for South Alabama following the 2019-20 campaign, but never appeared in a game for the Jaguars. He transferred to Grambling State, sat out the 2021-22 campaign and played in just three games last season.
Lewis tallied six points, a rebound and an assist before fouling out in 20 minutes in his Hilton homecoming.
Travis Hines covers Iowa State University sports for the Des Moines Register and Ames Tribune. Contact him at thines@amestrib.com or (515) 284-8000. Follow him on X at @TravisHines21.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa State basketball delivers lopsided victory over Grambling State
