For most coaches, a 100th win is a milestone. For TJ Otzelberger, it became a battle of survival. In a ranked showdown that went down to the final breaths, Otzelberger’s Iowa State Cyclones edged Rick Pitino’s No. 14 St. John’s squad 83–82, the kind of knife-edge victory that felt almost scripted for a moment this significant. It wasn’t just another early-season thriller; it was the night Otzelberger cemented his place alongside the most successful coaches in program history.

This wasn’t just another non-conference win either; it was a top-15 showdown at the inaugural Players Era Festival in Las Vegas, with No. 15 Iowa State handing Hall of Famer Rick Pitino’s No. 14 Red Storm their second loss to a ranked team this season.

After the close win, TJ Otzelberger praised his team’s performance in the key moments. “We take pride in the turnover battle,” he said.

Under Otzelberger, Iowa State usually buries teams by winning the turnover margin; they came into Vegas leading the nation in defensive turnover percentage, but this time the story flipped a little. St. John’s actually finished with one fewer turnover, and the Cyclones only edged the points-off-turnovers battle 14–13 after forcing seven miscues in the second half to claw back the tempo they wanted.

He emphasized the effectiveness of their controlled possession strategy against the formidable Red Storm offense. The Cyclones’ defense changed the game in the second half. Iowa State scored more points than St. John’s in the first six minutes to take early control. The Red Storm was scoring an average of 98.5 points per game going into the tournament, and they had scored at least 93 points in their first four games. This defensive framework directly countered that.

The real dagger for St. John’s wasn’t just missed shots; it was Iowa State’s relentlessness on the glass. The Cyclones ripped down 17 offensive rebounds and turned them into 22 second-chance points, including 16 after halftime, which is exactly where a team averaging 98.5 a night usually buries opponents instead. Even Pitino admitted the difference, saying his team “didn’t come up with the rebounds necessary to put the other team away” and crediting Iowa State’s “incredible crashing of the offensive glass.”

“The more together the team wins, and we feel a tremendous sense of pride in our program that we’re together and that we do the hard work for one another,” he explained.

Milan Momcilovic led the way with 23 points and five three-pointers that helped Iowa State’s second-half surge. Joshua Jefferson added 17 points and eight rebounds, and his last free throws with 9.4 seconds left sealed the win after St. John’s missed key chances at the rim.

For Iowa State’s program, beating Pitino’s St. John’s team was more than just a tournament game. The Red Storm, who were thought to be a Big East contender with preseason honors for players like Zuby Ejiofor, were the Cyclones’ toughest opponent since the start of the season. Iowa State’s undefeated record is now based on a defense that has kept three of four opponents to 62 points or fewer, making them the 22nd-best scoring defense in the country at 62.3 points per game.

But among these triumphs, there was a challenge, an unexpected one. It would put the Cyclones’ resilience to the test.

TJ Otzelberger faces tough questions about Tamin Lipsey’s injury

However, the victory was not without its consequences. Tamin Lipsey, the Cyclones’ offensive engine, hurt his lower body just as the game was about to end, falling to the floor as St. John’s made a late comeback. The injury made Iowa State’s future uncertain, even though they won the game. Lipsey limped off the court, his jersey covering his face as he went to the locker room, marking a disappointing end to what should have been a perfect celebration.

Before the injury, Lipsey had already given Iowa State 16 points and a team-high five assists in 35 minutes, controlling the tempo the way he usually does. That’s what makes any setback with him so alarming: Lipsey has started 108 games in four seasons, picked up All-Big 12 honors in back-to-back years and twice made the league’s All-Defensive team, becoming the face of Iowa State’s identity on both ends.

“We’re still evaluating. The training staff and medical staff just told us it’s going to be a day-to-day, lower-body extremity, so I don’t have great detail on it. We haven’t had time to really, truly evaluate him over time. So we’ll get back to the hotel, check him out, and see what that means.” TJ Otzelberger said after the game.

Lipsey’s injury is especially worrisome because of his past injuries. The two-time All-Big 12 selection and two-time Big 12 All-Defensive team pick was troubled with a groin injury during the last season, and he was unable to participate in the preseason due to a knee injury. However, he has already achieved significant success this year, averaging 18.4 points, grabbing 3.6 rebounds, dishing out 5.2 assists, and stealing 3.2 times per game.