Tennessee defeat Iowa State to secure third successive Elite Eight
Sixth-seeded Tennessee produced a dominant rebounding display to upset second seeds Iowa State 76-62 in Chicago and reach their third consecutive Elite Eight on Friday.
Nate Ament spearheaded the scoring with 18 points, while Ja’Kobi Gillespie added 16 to keep their team’s Final Four dreams alive.
A formidable performance on the glass proved decisive as the Volunteers ruthlessly outrebounded their opponents 43-22.
Absence of Jefferson proves costly
Iowa State clearly struggled to fill the void left by injured star Joshua Jefferson.
The All-America forward, who averaged 16.4 points and 7.4 rebounds this season, sustained a tournament-ending injury during their March Madness opener against Tennessee State.
Despite his absence, Nate Heise and Tamin Lipsey fought valiantly to keep the Cyclones competitive by contributing 18 points each.
A tense first half concluded with Rick Barnes’ side clinging to a narrow 34-33 advantage after Felix Okpara converted two late free throws.
Carey powers second-half surge
The contest broke open following the interval when the sixth seeds orchestrated a decisive 13-4 scoring run.
Jaylen Carey emphatically capped this momentum shift with a crucial three-point play off a tip-in.
The imposing 6ft 8in forward turned to the roaring crowd and flexed before sinking his free throw to establish a commanding 14-point lead with 11 minutes remaining.
Okpara provided essential support in the paint, chipping in with 12 points and 10 rebounds to secure a crucial double-double.
Wolverines await in regional final
Victory moves the university within just one win of a historic first Final Four appearance.
They will face top seeds Michigan in Sunday’s Midwest Region final after the Wolverines comfortably dispatched Alabama 90-77.