Tamin Lipsey Injured in Iowa State’s Thrilling Win Over St. John’s

URGENT UPDATE: Iowa State’s star point guard Tamin Lipsey suffered a significant injury late in the thrilling 83-82 victory over St. John’s on Monday night in Las Vegas. His status for the remainder of the Players Era Festival is currently undetermined, raising concerns for the Cyclones ahead of their upcoming match against Creighton.

The incident occurred with just 2:09 left in the game after St. John’s Oziyah Sellers drained a crucial 3-pointer. Lipsey collapsed on the court and remained there for several tense minutes while coach T.J. Otzelberger attended to him. Eventually, Lipsey was able to walk to the locker room, but he covered his face with his jersey, indicating the severity of the situation.

“We’re still evaluating,” Otzelberger said post-game. “The training staff and medical staff have indicated it’s a day-to-day situation with a lower-body extremity injury. We need more time to properly assess him.”

Lipsey, a two-time All-Big 12 selection, has already faced injury challenges this season, averaging 18.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 3.2 steals. His absence could significantly impact Iowa State’s performance as they continue their season.

“This is tough for us. Tamin runs our team,” said junior forward Milan Momcilovic. “We have a next-player-step-up mentality, but seeing our leader go down is disappointing.”

Despite Lipsey’s injury, No. 15 Iowa State managed to secure the win against No. 14 St. John’s. The Cyclones established an early ten-point lead, but the Red Storm surged back to take a 45-43 lead at halftime. The second half turned into a fierce battle with nine lead changes, and neither team led by more than seven points.

With 3:07 remaining, Iowa State took a five-point lead, but St. John’s quickly responded with back-to-back 3-pointers from Sellers. Momcilovic countered with a driving finish to reclaim the lead, while St. John’s struggled on their final possessions. The game was ultimately decided by Iowa State’s dominance on the boards, with the Cyclones securing 17 offensive rebounds and converting them into 22 second-chance points.

“We simply didn’t secure the rebounds when it mattered,” said St. John’s coach Rick Pitino. “That’s a testament to Iowa State’s tenacity on the glass.”

Momcilovic had a standout performance, scoring 23 points and sinking five 3-pointers, while teammate Joshua Jefferson contributed significantly with 17 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists.

Iowa State, currently 5-0, is set to face Creighton on Tuesday, while St. John’s, now 3-2, will play Baylor. Fans eagerly await updates on Lipsey’s condition, as his leadership is crucial for the Cyclones moving forward. Stay tuned for the latest developments on this unfolding story.