Kentucky’s season ends early again as Iowa State runs into Sweet 16 despite sidelined star

ST. LOUIS — Iowa State is a program built on toughness and a relentless no-middle defense that sometimes makes it seem like there’s an extra defender on the floor.

No. 7 seed Kentucky felt that for 40 minutes on Sunday afternoon, and despite missing 14 of its first 15 3-pointers and playing without star forward Joshua Jefferson (out with a sprained ankle), second-seeded Iowa State surged to an 82-63 win to advance to the Sweet 16 for the third time in five years under T.J. Otzelberger.

Kentucky, coming off a thrilling overtime win Friday in the first round, trailed by as many as 23 and never really threatened in the second half. The Wildcats, who started the year ranked ninth and with a reported $22 million roster, will finished unranked after failing to get out of the first weekend for the fifth time in the past six years.

The Cyclones trailed 20-9 early and looked lost offensively without Jefferson, but then they dialed up the pressure and the Cats started coughing up the ball. Kentucky had 20 turnovers that led to 25 points for Iowa State. UK coach Mark Pope kept preaching that Kentucky needed to pass the ball to beat the pressure, but Kentucky’s half-court possessions looked panicked.

Iowa State eventually settled in by attacking the basket, and eventually those 3-pointers started falling. Nate Heise hit a big one at the buzzer to end the first half to give Iowa State a 1-point lead at the break.

Senior guard Tamin Lipsey opened the second half with another 3, but it was his slashing ability that eventually led to the Cyclones finding holes in UK’s defense. Lipsey finished with 26 points and 10 assists. Milan Momcilovic, who Kentucky was determined to keep from getting shots, managed to find them and scored 20 points.