Freshman Killyan Toure impressed with a career-high 20 points, leading No. 15 Iowa State to a 78-60 victory over Creighton in the second round of the Players Era Championship on Tuesday. The Cyclones demonstrated resilience in the absence of co-leading scorer Tamin Lipsey, who suffered a groin injury during their narrow 83-82 win against St. John’s on Monday.
Joshua Jefferson contributed significantly with 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Blake Buchanan and Milan Momcilovic added 12 and 10 points, respectively. This win improved Iowa State’s record to 6-0, showcasing their depth and adaptability amid injuries.
Creighton, now sitting at 3-3, saw four of its players score in double figures, with Jasen Green and Josh Dix leading the charge with 15 points each. Hudson Greer had 12 points, and Isaac Traudt rounded out the scoring with 10 points.
Despite Lipsey’s absence—who has averaged 18.4 points on an efficient 50.7% shooting—Toure stepped up remarkably, making a significant impact early in the game by scoring 10 points on 50% shooting in the first half. The Cyclones dominated the game around the rim, outscoring the Bluejays in the paint by a staggering 52-20 margin and capitalizing on Creighton’s 17 turnovers with 19 points from these mistakes.
As both teams continue their journey in the Players Era Championship on Wednesday, fans can look forward to further exciting matchups as the tournament progresses.