Jefferson and Lipsey lead No. 16 Iowa State to 96-57 win over Stonehill

3 hours ago7 min read

AMES, Iowa — Forget the final score for a second and just look at the stat line. Joshua Jefferson and Tamin Lipsey didn't just score 23 points each in No.16 Iowa State's 96-57 demolition of Stonehill on Monday night; they put on a clinic that would make any NBA fan do a double-take. Jefferson was everywhere, snagging nine boards, dishing seven dimes, and pilfering four steals in a performance so complete it felt like he was playing NBA 2K on Rookie mode.This wasn't just a win; it was a statement, the kind that gets talked about in locker rooms and on message boards for weeks. The Cyclones are now 4-0, and their average margin of victory is a ludicrous 33.3 points, which is the kind of dominance you usually only see from blue-blood programs like Kansas or Duke. But let's be real, the first half was a bit of a head-scratcher.Iowa State went 0-for-7 from beyond the arc, looking like they'd left their shooting touch in the locker room. Then the second half started, and it was like someone flipped a switch.Suddenly, they were 5-of-8 from deep, unleashing a 15-0 run that felt like a tidal wave crashing over a struggling Stonehill squad. The sequence that really put the game to bed was back-to-back triples from Killyan Toure and Jefferson, pushing the lead to 48-27 and effectively turning the rest of the night into garbage time.By the time Jamarion Batemon drilled a three midway through the second half, making it a 30-point game, Hilton Coliseum was rocking, and you could feel the energy shift from a competitive matchup to a full-blown party. Milan Momcilovic chipped in a cool 16 points, while Lipsey, not to be outdone by his backcourt partner, added six rebounds, four assists, and two steals, proving that this team's backcourt might be one of the most underrated in the nation.The only blemish on an otherwise perfect night for Jefferson was a late flagrant foul, a moment of over-aggression in a game that was long since decided. What truly sealed Stonehill's fate, however, was their inability to take care of the rock.The Cyclones, known for their tenacious defense under Coach T. J.Otzelberger, forced 20 turnovers and converted them into 28 points, a testament to their relentless, havoc-wreaking style that has become their identity. For Stonehill (1-5), a Northeast Conference team still finding its footing in Division I after moving up in 2022-23, this was their fourth bout with a Top 25 opponent, but their first ever against a Big 12 powerhouse.Koffi Hermann, who came in averaging a solid 18. 4 points, did his best to keep the Skyhawks afloat, hitting 4-of-8 from deep to lead his team with 16 points, but it was like bringing a knife to a gunfight against Iowa State's defensive juggernaut.Looking ahead, the Cyclones have a massive test next Monday against No. 14 St.John's in the Players Era Championship in Las Vegas, a game that could really define their early-season credentials and set the tone for March. Meanwhile, Stonehill heads home to host Lafayette on Friday, hoping to bounce back from this brutal stretch.In the grand scheme of things, this blowout isn't just another notch in the win column; it's a loud reminder that Iowa State is building something special, a team that plays with a chip on its shoulder and a defensive intensity that can suffocate anyone. If they keep this up, we might be talking about them as a dark horse Final Four contender come tournament time.

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