Joshua Jefferson swished two free throws with 4.1 seconds left in overtime to lift No. 3 Iowa State to an 85-84 triumph over Texas Tech in Big 12 play at Lubbock, Texas, for the Cyclones’ 11th win in a row.
Jefferson threw an inbounds pass with 8.4 seconds left in OT, got the ball back on the left block and got fouled by Darrion Williams on a move to the basket.
The last two free throws left Iowa State (14-1, 4-0) 6-for-6 from the free-throw line in overtime after it struggled in regulation (11 of 18).
The Red Raiders (11-4, 2-2) grabbed an 84-83 lead with 15.4 seconds left on the clock when Williams snatched an air-ball and banked in a blind reverse layup. That was the eighth of nine lead changes — seven of those in the closing five minutes of regulation plus overtime.
Curtis Jones buried a 3-pointer early in OT to put the Cyclones in front, the last of his season-high 26 points. Jefferson finished with 17 points and eight rebounds and teamed with Jones to knock down 14 of 25 floor shots to help Iowa State shoot 52.5 percent (31 of 59). The Cyclones were 6 of 12 from 3-point territory, which helped them erase a deficit that reached 13 points.
JT Toppin, Chance McMillian and Christian Anderson led Texas Tech with 18 points apiece. Elijah Hawkins was spectacular handling the ball with 10 assists and no turnovers and Toppin grabbed nine rebounds to help the Red Raiders claim a 37-31 edge on the glass.
Texas Tech had a handful of chances to seal the win, but McMillian and Hawkins — who both shoot above 90 percent from the free-throw line — each missed the first of two foul shots to leave the window open for Iowa State.
The Red Raiders jumped in front early, built a double-digit lead for most of the first half and took a 40-34 lead into the break.
Toppin scored 14 points and grabbed five rebounds to lead the way for the Red Raiders, who connected on 5-of-11 3-pointers to construct the lead.
Iowa State shot the ball well overall in the first 20 minutes (14 of 26) but was 0-for-5 from deep and shaky at the foul stripe (6-of-11).
–Field Level Media
