Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger says the Cyclones are trying to reclaim the energy that helped get them into the nation’s top ten. Losers of six of their last seven and four in a row the Cyclones close the regular season on Saturday at seventh ranked Baylor.

The game comes three days after Otzelberger dismissed top three point shooter Caleb Grill from the team. Otzelberger says the Cyclones are focused on the challenges the are ahead.

Otzelberger says without Grill the Cyclones will need to pick it up in a number of areas.

Senior guard Jaren Holmes is confident the Cyclones can get things turned around.

Holmes says the Cyclones are focused on what still can be accomplished

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Baylor is part of a three way tie for second in the Big 12 at 11-7. The Cyclones are sixth at 8-9.

(hawkeyesports) MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – 2-Seed Iowa defeated 7-Seed Purdue, 69-58, inside the Target Center on Friday night to advance to the Big Ten Tournament Semifinals.

Three Hawkeyes finished in double digits, with National Player of the Year Caitlin Clark having the game-high 22 points, eight rebounds, and four assists. Monika Czinano finished with 14 points, going 6-for-7 from the field. Gabbie Marshall had 11 points, going 3-for-5 from the three.

Clark got things going quick for Iowa, sinking her first 3-pointer of the game in the first 20 seconds. From there, the Hawkeyes went on a, 6-0, scoring run to gain control early. An assist from Molly Davis gave Hannah Stuelke an easy layup to give Iowa a nine-point lead after one.

Up Next
The Hawkeyes will face the 3-Seed Maryland in the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament inside the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Tipoff for Iowa’s semifinal matchup is set for 4 p.m. (CT) and will be broadcast on BTN. We’ll have it on KJAN starting at 3:45 p.m.

The UNI men’s basketball team made it a game but couldn’t complete the rally against top-seeded Bradley on Friday afternoon in the MVC Tournament Quarterfinals. The Braves prevailed 72-66 to move to the semifinals on Saturday.

UNI trailed by six at the break and kept the game tight most of the second half. The Panthers missed a couple of shots down the stretch and the Braves knocked down their free throws to secure the win.

Bowen Born led UNI with 34 points, 3 assists, and 2 rebounds. Tytan Anderson had 7 points and 6 boards. The Panthers end the season with a record of 14-18.

Bradley was led by 30 points and 9 rebounds from Rienk Mast and Ja’Shon Henry added 12 points and 8 rebounds. The Braves improved to 24-8 on the season and will face Indiana State on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. in the semifinals. The Sycamores advanced with a 94-91 win over the four-seed Belmont.

Class 4A Championship

2:30 p.m. –  Dallas Center-Grimes (22-3) vs. North Polk (23-2)

Class 2A State Championship

4:45 p.m. – Dike-New Hartford (25-1) vs. Central Lyon (24-0)

Class 1A Championship

7:00 p.m. –  Algona Bishop Garrigan (25-1) vs. Newell-Fonda (24-2)

Class 2A Semifinals

Dike-New Hartford 61, Sibley-Ocheyedan 56
Box Score | Game Summary

Central Lyon 65, Pocahontas Area 44
Box Score | Game Summary

Class 1A Semifinals

Algona Bishop Garrigan 73, Remsen-St. Mary’s 39
Box Score | Game Summary

Newell-Fonda 66 North Linn 48
Box Score Summary

Class 5A Championship

Pleasant Valley 59, Johnston 56
Box Score | Game Summary

Pleasant Valley’s defense rose to the occasion again and this time, it carried the Spartans to a state championship.

Thriving on its 2-3 zone defense all season, Pleasant Valley held Johnston scoreless for the first 6 minutes of the fourth quarter and opened a lead just big enough to hold on for a 59-56 victory over the defending champions and claim the Class 5A title.

Jessie Clemons scored 18 points to lead the Spartans, who until last year had never won a state tournament game and lost to Johnston in the semifinals a year ago. All-tournament captain Halle Vice added 14 points, Reagan Pagniano scored 13, including four key free throws at the end, and Addy Maurer finished with 12 as Pleasant Valley put the finishing touches on a 26-0 season.

Johnston’s Aili Tanke drained seven 3-pointers to tie a 5A tournament record and finished with 23 points, a figure matched by teammate Aaliyah Riley. Emma Hampton added seven for the Dragons, who played in the championship game for the fourth straight year. They won in 2020 and finished second to Waukee in 2021.

It was a game worthy of a championship contest. The lead changed hands 13 times in the first half before ending in a tie at 30. Pleasant Valley never trailed after Clemons and Vice hit back-to-back 3-pointers for a 42-38 lead midway through the third quarter, though the Spartans had to work to stay ahead.

Class 5A All-Tournament Team
Alli Tanke, Johnston
Jessie Clemens, Pleasant Valley
Ava Zediker, Dowling Catholic
Jaeden Pratt, Ankeny Centennial
Aaliyah Riley, Johnston
Halle Vice, Pleasant Valley (Captain)

Iowa Pork Producers Top Producer of the Game
Jessie Clemens, Pleasant Valley

Class 3A Championship

Sioux Center 62, Benton Community 47
Box Score | Game Summary

Sioux Center dominated around the basket, cashed in at the free throw line and is taking home a state championship as its reward.

The Warriors got 17 points from Willow Bleeker and 16 from Tatum Schmalbeck in defeating Benton Community 62-47 to claim the Class 3A title. It’s the first championship for the Warriors and veteran coach Doug Winterfeld, who guided them runner-up finishes in 3A in 2017 and 2018.

Sioux Center used its size advantage to keep Benton away from the basket and built a 27-10 edge in points in the paint. The Warriors also got themselves to the free throw line, making 20 of 30, mostly because of Bleeker and Schmalbeck.

Sioux Center closes its memorable season with a 21-5 record. Four of those losses were to tournament qualifiers. Benton, which had been winless in four state tournament games before this year, closes with a 23-4 record.

Class 3A All-Tournament Team
Tatum Schmalbeck, Sioux Center
McKenna Kramer, Benton Community
Hailey Miller, Solon
Alyssa Griffith, Vinton-Shellsburg
Jenna Twedt, Benton Community
Willow Bleeker, Sioux Center (captain)

Iowa Pork Producers Top Producer of the Game
Willow Bleeker, Sioux Center