Tamin Lipsey showcases off-season growth in Iowa State’s drumming of Lindenwood

Iowa State Cyclones guard Tamin Lipsey (3) takes a three-point shot over Green Bay Phoenix guard Noah Reynolds (21)during the first half at Hilton Coliseum on Monday, Nov. 6, 2023, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK

AMES – Tamin Lipsey drove to the rim in search of another bucket during Iowa State’s 102-47 win over Lindenwood Thursday. The bucket would go along with what was already a stout night, seconds into the second half and with Iowa State holding a big lead already.

He got fouled on the way up, made the basket, and hit the free throw to set a new career high in points in a single game.

“He started the work the day the season ended,” Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger said. “We got back from the NCAA Tournament game and he was in the gym working on his shot. (I’m) pretty fortunate to coach a guy like him, who works like he does and who leads like he does. He leads by example.”

The Ames, Iowa native scored seven of the team’s first nine points, and later played a big role in getting the Cyclones out of slump that had Lindenwood within eight on the scoreboard in the first half.

Lipsey finished with 21 points on the night, along with seven assists, three boards and a pair of steals.

“You watch how he walks, how he talks, how he treats people, how he conducts himself in the classroom – everything he does is about leadership, and about winning,” Otzelberger said. “I’m so proud of him. I could talk about him every game that we come to one of these (postgame press conferences). You can’t say enough about all the things he does away from the court, what he does on a daily basis for our team and what an awesome young man he is.”

Lipsey went to work in the off-season and has showed out in his team’s first pair of games.

His leadership may have rubbed off a bit on Milan Momcilovic, who finished with 17 points for the second-straight game to kick off his Iowa State career.

Rob Jones added 12 points on a 4-5 shooting night, while making all four of his free throw attempts. Keshon Gilbert finished with 12 points.

The only adversity the team faced in the game came in a 16-8 Lindenwood run that trimmed the lead to eight points in the first half.

“I’d love to see us play 40 minutes and play complete,” Otzelberger said. “I felt like we had five or six minutes there where we kind of stalled out offensively. We weren’t aggressive enough on the defensive end, but as you mentioned, kind of kicked it in there and had a run going into the half.”

Otzelberger wanting his team, which finished with 19 steals in the game, to be more aggressive on defense is about as on brand as it gets.

Eventually, his team hit the century mark, doing so for the first time in the modern era, and by way of fan favorite Conrad Hawley’s assist to set up the three.

Iowa State will return to the court at Hilton Coliseum Sunday to face Idaho State, tipping off at Noon on ESPN+.