No. 16 Iowa State’s first game away from the friendly confines of Hilton Coliseum will be at a distinctive venue coach T.J. Otzelberger knows well.
Iowa State heads to snowy Sioux Falls, S.D., for a solid nonconference test against Mississippi State on Monday at the Sanford Pentagon. Otzelberger coached there four times during his three-season stint at South Dakota State (2016-19).
The matchup also marks the 100th Division I basketball game played on the Pentagon’s Heritage Court.
It’s the second visit to the Sanford Pentagon for Iowa State (2-0), which defeated Colorado 68-62 in 2015. Mississippi State (1-0) makes its Pentagon debut as the two schools meet for the first time since 2021, a 95-56 home win for the Bulldogs.
“Regardless of who we play and how we go about it, that’s going to be important that we keep building,” Otzelberger said Thursday following Iowa State’s 102-62 victory over Grambling. “So now it’s back to the practice court and do everything we can to keep elevating ourselves as we go into that game on Monday (against Mississippi State).”
Iowa State point guard Tamin Lipsey continues to progress after he sustained a knee injury during practice in September.
The program’s career leader for steals pocketed five against Fairleigh Dickinson in the season opener and five more versus Grambling. Lipsey is also shooting 60% (12 of 20) from the floor through two games — the Cyclones are at 53.4% (71 of 133) as a team — with 11 assists, 10 rebounds and one turnover.
“The (Grambling) game was a little choppy at times because of the fouls and some of those things,” Otzelberger said. “But I thought (Lipsey) responded well in practice, responded well in the game and (it’s) really encouraging how he’s continuing to develop coming off the injury. I mean, (it) looks like he’s in great shape, great form and (it’s) exciting to see.”
When the Pentagon game was announced in May, Mississippi State coach Chris Jans said “it’s a great opportunity to face a quality program at a first-class venue.”
Continuing to utilize different lineups should help guide Mississippi State’s coaching staff to what can be most effective with the current roster. Jans was pleased with the way his team protected the ball during Wednesday’s 86-62 win over North Alabama coupled with a 53-36 rebounding edge.
“Obviously, I’d take seven turnovers every game we play the rest of the games I get to coach in,” Jans said postgame Wednesday. “It’s a magnificent number and it’s something we’ve been talking a lot with our team, especially since the Houston (exhibition) game because we had so many.”
The Bulldogs overcame a nine-point deficit with 16 minutes left against North Alabama. Josh Hubbard, Mississippi State’s top scorer last season at 18.9 points per game, opened his junior year with a game-high 27 points and eight assists.
Eleven players received minutes and that depth could prove key again Monday, as UAB transfer Ja’Borri McGhee scored 14 points in 23 minutes off the bench in his Mississippi State debut.
–Field Level Media
