URGENT UPDATE: Iowa State’s star point guard Tamin Lipsey suffered a troubling injury late in their tight 83-82 victory over St. John’s on November 20, 2023. As the game drew to a close, Lipsey collapsed on the court, raising immediate concerns about his condition. Coach T.J. Otzelberger confirmed that Lipsey’s status for the remainder of the Players Era Festival is uncertain, creating anxiety among Cyclones fans.
With just 2:09 left in the game, Lipsey fell after a 3-pointer by St. John’s Oziyah Sellers. He remained on the floor for several minutes as Otzelberger and medical staff attended to him. Eventually, Lipsey managed to walk to the locker room, but not before covering his face with his jersey, a sign of the distress surrounding his injury.
“We’re still evaluating,” Otzelberger stated post-game. “It’s going to be a day-to-day, lower-body extremity issue, so I don’t have great detail on it. We’ll get back to the hotel, check him out, and see what that means.” This latest injury is particularly concerning as Lipsey has a history of issues; he was already hindered by a groin injury last season and missed significant preseason action due to a knee injury.
As a two-time All-Big 12 selection, Lipsey’s impact on the team cannot be overstated. He has started 108 games in his four years at Iowa State, averaging 18.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 3.2 steals this season. His leadership is crucial for the Cyclones, and junior forward Milan Momcilovic expressed the urgency of the situation: “That’s our guy. He runs the team. It’s obviously disappointing to see him go down. But we have a next-player-step-up mentality.”
Despite the injury setback, Iowa State, ranked No. 15, managed to secure the win against No. 14 St. John’s. The Cyclones initially surged to a ten-point lead, but St. John’s fought back, leading 45-43 at halftime. The second half was a fierce battle, with both teams exchanging leads and neither able to pull away by more than seven points.
Late in the game, Iowa State was up by five with just over three minutes remaining, but St. John’s responded with two quick 3-pointers by Sellers, shifting the momentum. Momcilovic, however, answered with a driving layup to reclaim the lead. St. John’s struggled to find good shots in the closing moments, ultimately falling short.
Offensive rebounds proved pivotal, as Iowa State dominated the boards, clinching 17 offensive rebounds for 22 second-chance points. St. John’s coach Rick Pitino lamented, “With the game on the line, we just didn’t come up with the rebounds necessary to put the other team away. It’s unfortunate we lost another good game.”
Momcilovic had a standout performance, scoring 23 points with five 3-pointers, while Joshua Jefferson contributed 17 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists. St. John’s frontcourt trio of Zuby Ejiofor, Bryce Hopkins, and Dillon Mitchell combined for 44 points and 25 rebounds.
Looking ahead, Iowa State (5-0) will face Creighton on Tuesday, while St. John’s (3-2) prepares to take on Baylor. Fans and analysts will be closely monitoring Lipsey’s recovery status as the Cyclones hope to maintain their momentum amidst this developing situation.
