Follow all of Sunday’s NCAA Tournament second round games with USA TODAY Sports’ live updates.
Otega Oweh gave us the moment of the NCAA Tournament so far with his banked-in 3-pointer to force overtime against Santa Clara in the first round.
Advertisement
It saved Kentucky’s season and Mark Pope from a likely avalanche of mean tweets.
What do the Wildcats do for an encore?
March Madness conference records: Big Ten leads at 11-2; How are SEC, Big 12 doing?
More: Kentucky’s versatile defensive weapon has Iowa State’s attention
No. 2 seed Iowa State absolutely demolished No. 15 seed Tennessee State in the first round, but it wasn’t all good news for the Cyclones. All-American forward Joshua Jefferson went down with an ankle early injury and is listed as questionable to face the Wildcats.
Sunday’s winner will advance to the Sweet 16 to meet the Virginia/Tennessee winner in Chicago next week.
Advertisement
Here’s what you need to know about Sunday’s second round game in St. Louis.
HIT REFRESH FOR UPDATES.
Kentucky vs Iowa State live score
|
TEAMS |
1H |
2H |
F |
|
Kentucky |
— |
— |
— |
|
Iowa State |
— |
— |
— |
What time is Kentucky vs Iowa State?
-
Time: 2:45 p.m. ET, Sunday.
What channel is Kentucky vs Iowa State? How to watch, streaming info
-
The game is airing on CBS, streaming via Paramount+.
Joshua Jefferson injury update: Will Iowa State star play today vs Kentucky?
Jefferson, a second-team All-American, suffered an ankle injury 2 1/2 minutes into the Friday’s game and did not return. He is listed as questionable, though Cyclones coach T.J. Otzelberger didn’t seem too optimistic.
“Right now, we’re continuing to evaluate,” Otzelberger said. “It appears unlikely, but you never want to rule anything out, so we’ll just continue to do what we can in his best interest and we’ll be prepared to go either way.”
Advertisement
Asked what it would take for him to play Sunday, Jefferson said: “I need to feel like myself. …. What you guys have seen all season from me, being able to be versatile on the floor and make the moves I’ve been making all year.”
Iowa State vs Kentucky prediction, odds
Odds provided by BetMGM, as of 9:30 a.m., Sunday.
∎ Eugene Rapay, Des Moines Register: Iowa State 79, Kentucky 73
Potentially being without Jefferson is tough, but if Heise and Killyan Toure can keep scoring as they did in the first round, that’ll go a long way for the Cyclones. Iowa State has to stay true to its identity, with physicality and disruptive defense. Kentucky’s size and athleticism may present problems, but the Cyclones have depth they can rely on. The margin for error shrinks without Jefferson, but the Cyclones will aim to survive and advance, and hope that he’ll be in good shape for next week.
Advertisement
∎ Ryan Black, Courier-Journal: Iowa State 71, Kentucky 68
With a healthy Joshua Jefferson, the Cyclones likely would be close to a double-digit favorite. But if he’s hobbled, that hurts Iowa State. And if he’s not able to play at all, that’s even tougher. Yet it’s not as if the Wildcats don’t have injury issues of their own. Starting point guard Jaland Lowe has been out since January. And forward Jayden Quaintance would need a miracle to be cleared Sunday.
Kentucky used up more energy — physically (going to OT) and emotionally (barely keeping its season alive) — than Iowa State.
It’ll be a bare-knuckled fight Sunday. But Iowa State will eke out a narrow victory to bring down the curtains on Kentucky’s second season under Mark Pope.
Advertisement
-
Jordan Mendoza: Iowa State
-
Blake Schuster: Iowa State
-
Moneyline: Iowa State (-220); Kentucky (+180)
-
Spread: Iowa State (-5.5)
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kentucky vs Iowa State live score updates, highlights from March Madness Round 2
