Iowa State Rolls Without Jefferson, Kentucky Advances

0:00On March 20, Iowa State, the second seed, rolled to a 108-74 win over 15 seed Tennessee State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Cyclone set program records for biggest margin of victory and most points scored in the tournament game, earning a spot in the round of 32. Early in the first half, Star IV Joshua Jefferson suffered an ankle injury and was ruled out for the rest of the game. His teammates quickly filled the gap, keeping the momentum strong despite the setback. Nate Heizy dropped 22 points, Killian Torre had a career high 25, and Blake Buchanan nearly notched a triple double with 11. Points, Adesis, and 7 rebounds, Iowa State dominated after the injury, outscoring Tennessee State by huge margins. Meanwhile, 7th seed Kentucky advanced by beating 10th seed Santa Clara in overtime, thanks to a buzzer beating 3 from Otega Owe and a strong. Second half, the Wildcats, now 22 and 13, are coached by Mark Pope and chasing another sweet 16.

1:05This Sunday matchup marks the fourth meeting between Iowa State and Kentucky, with two prior clashes in the tournament. The Cyclones look ready to keep rolling without Jefferson.