Iowa State’s men’s basketball team faced a heartbreaking defeat against Auburn in the Maui Invitational on Monday night, falling with a final score that highlighted their struggles in the second half. The Cyclones led 49-33 at halftime but were significantly outscored in the latter half, allowing 50 points while only managing 32 of their own. The turning point came with Johni Broome’s game-winning tip-in just two seconds before the buzzer, sealing Iowa State’s loss and dropping their record to 3-1 for the season.
Keshon Gilbert was a standout for Iowa State, leading the team with 23 points and reaching the milestone of 1,000 career points alongside Curtis Jones, who matched the feat as well. However, Gilbert’s costly turnover with just 11 seconds remaining proved detrimental to the Cyclones’ chances of clinching the win. On the other hand, a flagrant foul against Auburn, drawn by Gilbert, temporarily boosted Iowa State’s hopes, allowing them to tie the game at 81.
Head Coach T.J. Otzelberger expressed concern over the defensive performance that saw his team concede 44 points in the first 18 minutes of the second half, an area he emphasized the team needs to address. Despite strong offensive bursts earlier in the game, including eight players contributing to the score, Iowa State struggled to maintain their momentum when it mattered most, making only six of 21 shots in the second half during crucial moments.
Next, Iowa State gears up to face the loser of the North Carolina vs. Dayton matchup on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. CT. Despite the setback, the Cyclones have the potential to bounce back, showing resilience and skill in earlier games this season. The challenge will be to harness that energy and improve their defensive strategies as they move forward in the tournament.
This game, while disappointing, showcased Iowa State’s talent, especially through individual performances from Gilbert and Jones, indicating that there are brighter days ahead for the Cyclones this season.