Keshon Gilbert leads Iowa State's balanced attack with 15 points in 77-65 win over UCF | iNFOnews.ca
Iowa State guard Keshon Gilbert (10) starts offense as he is defended by Central Florida guard Dallan Coleman (6) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday Feb. 11, 2025 in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Kevin Kolczynski)

Keshon Gilbert leads Iowa State’s balanced attack with 15 points in 77-65 win over UCF

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Keshon Gilbert scored 15 points and Joshua Jefferson had 13 points and eight rebounds to lead No. 10 Iowa State to a 77-65 win over UCF on Tuesday night.

Tamin Lipsey scored 11 points and Curtis Jones scored 10 off the bench for Iowa State (19-5, 9-4 Big 12).

Keyshawn Hall led the Knights (13-11, 4-9) with 22 points and eight rebounds. Guard Mikey Williams had 14 points off the bench.

The Cyclones usually rely on their scoring to win, but they put the defensive clamps on the Knights, holding one of the Big 12’s highest-scoring teams to 41.5% shooting from the field including 6 for 26 (23.1%) from 3-point range.

Takeaways

Keshon Gilbert leads Iowa State's balanced attack with 15 points in 77-65 win over UCF | iNFOnews.ca
Iowa State guard Tamin Lipsey, left, is defend by UCF guard Jordan Ivy-Curry, right, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday Feb. 11, 2025 in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Kevin Kolczynski)

Iowa State: The Cyclones put their three-game losing streak farther in the rearview mirror, following a 30-point home win over TCU last weekend with a solid road win at UCF.

UCF: The Knights’ NCAA Tournament hopes are fading fast as they lost their fifth straight game and another chance to get a win over a ranked opponent. They went 0-5 against currently ranked conference opponents with none remaining on the schedule.

Key Moment

Iowa State had answers for UCF runs throughout the second half, answering Williams’ 3-pointer with a 3 from Nate Heise early in the second half to open a double-digit lead. Then midway through the second half, Knights guard Darius Johnson missed a layup that led directly to a runout for Gilbert and an 11-point lead.

Key Stat

Keshon Gilbert leads Iowa State's balanced attack with 15 points in 77-65 win over UCF | iNFOnews.ca
Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger reacts to his team as they play UCF during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Kevin Kolczynski)

Despite the presence of UCF’s 7-foot center Moustapha Thiam, Iowa State dominated the paint. The Cyclones grabbed 11 offensive rebounds for 15 second-chance points and outscored the Knights 38-34 in the paint.

Up Next

Iowa State: The Cyclones return home Saturday to face Cincinnati.

UCF: The Knights play at Colorado on Saturday.

Keshon Gilbert leads Iowa State's balanced attack with 15 points in 77-65 win over UCF | iNFOnews.ca
UCF head coach Johnny Dawkins signals his team as they play Iowa State during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Kevin Kolczynski)
Keshon Gilbert leads Iowa State's balanced attack with 15 points in 77-65 win over UCF | iNFOnews.ca
Central Florida center Moustapha Thiam (52) defends Iowa State forward Milan Momcilovic (22) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday Feb. 11, 2025 in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Kevin Kolczynski)
Keshon Gilbert leads Iowa State's balanced attack with 15 points in 77-65 win over UCF | iNFOnews.ca
UCF guard Keyshawn Hall, left, drives to basket against Iowa State guard Curtis Jones during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday Feb. 11, 2025 in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Kevin Kolczynski)
Keshon Gilbert leads Iowa State's balanced attack with 15 points in 77-65 win over UCF | iNFOnews.ca
Central Florida guard Mikey Williams, left, is defended by Iowa State guard Keshon Gilbert (10) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday Feb. 11, 2025 in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Kevin Kolczynski)

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