KANSAS CITY, MO — Iowa State shot over 50 percent from the floor as they defeated Baylor 83 to 66 in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament.
Iowa State started the game hot before Baylor's Makai Mason hit back to back threes to put the Bears on the board.
Cyclones fans definitely outnumbered the Baylor faithful and they willed the team back into it. Talen Horton-Tucker attacked the basket for Iowa State gaining a 24-22 lead before Baylor coach Scott Drew called a timeout to make some changes.
Out of the timeout, Freddie Gillespie blocked a Cyclone shot before Jared Butler took it coast-to-coast for a Baylor score to tie the game at 24.
Iowa State then went on an 11 to 2 run before Mario Kegler hit a triple to make it 35-29, forcing a Cyclone timeout.
Horton-Tucker made another three point shot before the break giving the Cyclones a 38-29 lead going into half.
Mason started the second half like the first, with a made three pointer, but Iowa State responded immediately to push the lead to 10.
The Cyclone's lead expanded to 14 before a media timeout bought Baylor time to re-group.
Unfortunately for the Bears, Iowa State had the same opportunity and the lead ballooned.
Mario Kegler and junior guard Devonte Bandoo would gain some momentum for Baylor sparking a mini run that would slice Iowa State's lead to 13 before forcing the Cyclones to call a timeout.
The Bears went on to make a handful of plays down the stretch, but not enough to overcome Iowa State's hot shooting.
Baylor will return to Waco and await Selection Sunday (Mar 17) where they will hope to gain at at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.
