Big 12 Tournament: Arizona advances with late-surge to beat Iowa State

The Iowa State Cyclones came into their Big 12 Tournament semifinal matchup ready to play. Behind the effort of forcing turnovers and being the aggressor in rebounding led the Cyclones to a 12-2 lead before Arizona seemingly woke up.

In under four minutes of game action, Arizona narrowed the gap from 14-2 to 18-12 with forced turnovers of their own and some timely three point shots. From that point on, both teams would trade field goals and missed field goals keeping the margin similar. However, Iowa State was successful in getting Arizona in foul trouble.

With about six minutes left in the half, guard Brayden Burries had not yet registered a single point in the game. The freshman guard is coming off two games where he has averaged 27 points per game. As well as 21 points per game over the last five. Burries was not going to be a non-factor.

Turnovers and missed shots would be the story for most of the first half, for both teams. Just under six minutes, the Wildcats would inch their way back, getting as close to the lead as 31-28. After which, Iowa State would trade three pointers for Arizona’s made two-point shots.

The final few minutes of the first half was marred with committed fouls, costly turnovers and missed field goals, but Iowa State would extend their lead before halftime. Including two three-point shots made by Milan Momcilovic on back-to-back possessions in the final fifteen seconds of the half.

At halftime, the Cyclones led the Wildcats by a score of 43-37. At halftime, the team stats paint an interesting picture that would suggest Iowa State’s halftime lead. Field goal percentage is within 2%. Rebounds were within three. Assists are separated by one.

Arizona would surge with improved 3-pt shooting

However, both teams are shooting a similar percentage from three, but Iowa State put up 17 attempts to Arizona’s five. The bigger concern for Arizona is turnovers. Arizona is losing the turnover battle almost 2:1.

Trading misses, makes and turnovers continued as the second half began. However, in the 15^th minute of the second half, Arizona put together multiple Iowa State turnovers into scoring opportunities and narrowed the Cyclones lead down to two.

Cyclone Milan Momcilovic continued his hot shooting from three. Extending the lead to 55-50. After the 12-minute mark, the Cyclones went on a run of their own extending the lead again. The Cyclone lead was extended to 58-52.

Anthony Dell’Orso for Arizona would hit two threes that bookended an Iowa State missed three, giving Arizona it’s first lead in the game. For the next six minutes, Iowa State would remain within striking distance but did not take the lead back until 6:15 left in the game going ahead 65-64.

Both teams over the next two-and-a-half-minute stretch relied on the three-point shot. Arizona regained the lead, but Iowa State seemed to match them almost three-point shot for three-point shot.

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With a minute left in the game, Iowa State would hit a much-needed field goal to bring it within three. Tamin Lipsey would hit a game tying three-point shot leaving only 0:15 left on the game clock. Arizona guard Jaden Bradley would make a 16-point pull up jump shot with time expiring to seal the victory for Arizona.

The two-point Arizona win puts them in the Big 12 Championship Game where they will face the winner of tonight’s No. 5 Houston vs No. 14 Kansas game.

The Big 12 Championship Game will be on Saturday March 14 and broadcast on ESPN at 6 p.m. ET.

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