Tamin Lipsey's Hustle Fuels No. 7 Iowa State's Win Over Baylor

Senior playmaker's all-out effort leads Cyclones to hard-fought victory.

Published on Feb. 7, 2026

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In a gritty 72-69 home win over Baylor, Iowa State senior Tamin Lipsey showcased his relentless hustle, diving for loose balls, crashing the boards, and making key plays to help the No. 7 Cyclones complete the regular-season sweep of the Bears. Lipsey finished with 14 points and a game-high 9 rebounds, complementing strong performances from teammates Milan Momcilovic (21 points) and Joshua Jefferson (15 points).

Why it matters

Lipsey's all-out effort exemplifies the Cyclones' identity as a tough, defense-first team that can win even when their offense isn't clicking. This win keeps Iowa State atop the Big 12 standings and solidifies their status as a potential Final Four contender.

The details

Despite shooting just 6-for-21 from 3-point range, Iowa State outscored Baylor 38-24 in the paint and won the rebounding battle 37-25. The Cyclones used a 13-2 run midway through the second half to build a 63-51 lead, then held off a late Baylor charge to secure the victory.

  • The game was played on Saturday, February 7, 2026.
  • Iowa State improved to 21-2 overall and 8-2 in Big 12 play with the win.

The players

Tamin Lipsey

A senior playmaker for Iowa State who is known for his relentless hustle and physical style of play. Lipsey finished with 14 points, 9 rebounds, and set the Iowa State all-time steals record.

Milan Momcilovic

A leading scorer for the Cyclones, Momcilovic had a team-high 21 points despite going just 2-for-6 from 3-point range.

Joshua Jefferson

A key contributor for Iowa State, Jefferson added 15 points to the Cyclones' balanced offensive attack.

T.J. Otzelberger

The head coach of the Iowa State Cyclones, who praised his team's defensive intensity and rebounding in the win.

Scott Drew

The head coach of the Baylor Bears, who acknowledged the Cyclones' defensive pressure and physicality as keys to the game.

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What they’re saying

“You'd love to finish the game better than what we did, but ultimately, we came in here with a very specific plan, and that was, in that second half, (pick up) our defensive intensity, (and) win the rebounding battle — and we did those things.”

— T.J. Otzelberger, Head Coach, Iowa State Cyclones

“Their defensive intensity and pressure wear you down. And when you get worn down mentally, our shots were different than they were in the first half. I imagine it's kind of like a great ground game in football. They just wear you out and it's body blow after body blow. That's what they do.”

— Scott Drew, Head Coach, Baylor Bears

“Tamin just lays it all on the line. There was like two of him out there on some possessions. … There's a physicality to how he does everything, and laying it on the line, he's done that for four years.”

— T.J. Otzelberger, Head Coach, Iowa State Cyclones

What’s next

The Cyclones will look to continue their strong start to Big 12 play when they host Kansas on Wednesday, February 12.

The takeaway

Tamin Lipsey's relentless hustle and physical style of play exemplify the Cyclones' identity as a tough, defense-first team that can win even when their offense isn't at its best. This win keeps Iowa State in contention for a top seed in the NCAA Tournament.