The Iowa State Cyclones, ranked 4th, and the Washington State Cougars, holding the 25th rank, faced off in a competitive matchup that ended with a score of 67-56. The Cyclones improved their record to an impressive tally while the Cougars adjusted their season's performance accordingly.

Mar 23, 2024; Omaha, NE, USA; Washington State Cougars head coach Kyle Smith reacts during the first half against the Iowa State Cyclones in the second round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament at CHI Health Center Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports

The game took place at CHI Health Center Omaha and was part of the East Regional - Second Round. The first half ended with both teams tied at 27 points each. However, it was in the second half where Iowa State pulled away with an additional 40 points compared to Washington State's 29.

Iowa State's performance was highlighted by their exceptional free-throw shooting. They made 14 out of 17 attempts from the line, translating to an impressive accuracy rate of approximately 82 percent. This sharpshooting contributed significantly to their total score and played a pivotal role in securing their victory.

Mar 23, 2024; Omaha, NE, USA; Washington State Cougars guard Myles Rice (2) gestures in the first half against the Iowa State Cyclones in the second round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament at CHI Health Center Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports

Moreover, Iowa State showcased a balanced offensive effort with seven three-pointers on a remarkable shooting percentage of about 50 percent from beyond the arc. Their overall field goal percentage stood around 40 percent as they made good use of their scoring opportunities throughout the game.

Defensively, Iowa State managed to outperform Washington State by forcing more turnovers and capitalizing on them effectively; they scored a notable total of 21 points off turnovers compared to just four by Washington State. Additionally, Iowa state recorded five steals which further disrupted Washington state’s offensive flow.

Mar 23, 2024; Omaha, NE, USA; Iowa State Cyclones forward Milan Momcilovic (22) shoots the ball against Washington State Cougars forward Andrej Jakimovski (23) during the second half in the second round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament at CHI Health Center Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports

On the other hand, despite falling short in scoring efficiency and turnover management, Washington state demonstrated strong interior defense with eight blocks and also excelled in two-point field goals making approximately 61 percent of those shots. They were also able to gather more rebounds than Iowa state with a total count standing at thirty-three against thirty-two for Iowa state.

As fans reflect on this solid performance by The Cyclones who showed tenacity on both ends of the court leading up to this win over The Cougars; attention now turns towards future matchups as supporters look forward to seeing whether The Cyclones can maintain this level of play moving forward into subsequent rounds.

Tune into our next broadcast for continuing coverage as we follow The Cyclones' journey through March Madness!

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