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Iowa State Dominates Players Era Championship
27 Nov
Summary
- Iowa State finished 3-0 at the Players Era Championship.
- The team won convincingly without starting point guard Tamin Lipsey.
- Joshua Jefferson showcased All-American caliber play throughout the tournament.
Iowa State concluded the Players Era Championship in Las Vegas with an undefeated 3-0 record, including a dominant 95-64 win over Syracuse. The Cyclones displayed impressive resilience, securing this victory without their starting point guard, Tamin Lipsey, who is recovering from a groin injury. Their performance suggests they are a top-10 team nationally, with Joshua Jefferson's exceptional play, averaging 16 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists, underscoring their strength.
Despite a format that left them out of the championship game, the Cyclones proved their mettle. Freshman Killyan Toure also stepped up significantly, scoring 49 points in two games with Lipsey sidelined. Coach T.J. Otzelberger expressed pride in his team's focus on the task at hand, regardless of the bracket's specific structure.
Meanwhile, No. 3 Houston also finished strong in Las Vegas with a 2-1 record, overcoming Notre Dame 66-56. Coach Kelvin Sampson noted that his team, which relies heavily on freshmen, is still developing and he prefers them to play their worst basketball in November. Both teams are gearing up for challenging matchups in early December.
