The Iowa State Cyclones run in the 2026 NCAA Tournament has come to an end in the Sweet 16 against the Tennessee Volunteers.
But, in the Sweet 16 against the Tennessee Volunteers, they were not the better team on the hardwood. Their magical season came to an end with the No. 6 seed in the Midwest Region recording the upset victory, 76-62.
, it looked as if the squad ran out of steam. Iowa State struggled shooting the ball, making 39% overall, 22% from 3-point range, and The free-throw shooting was a real detriment to the Cyclones staying in the game, especially in the second half. They shot under 50%, leaving them climbing uphill, unable to convert at the charity stripe.Mar 27, 2026; Chicago, IL, USA; Tennessee Volunteers forward DeWayne Brown II shoots in the second half against the Iowa State Cyclones during a Sweet Sixteen game of the Midwest Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at United Center. | Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images There were opportunities to get back into the game, especially with their opponents also struggling from the charity stripe. The Volunteers shot 9-of-15 from the foul line, but it didn’t end up costing them. Nate Heise kept his NCAA tournament success going, scoring 18 points, stepping up big time to help offset the scoring that Jefferson would normally provide. But, he made only 1-of-7 3-point attempts. Joining him in spearheading the offensive attack was point guard Tamin Lipsey. The senior did everything he could to help get his team over the hump, scoring 18 points with five rebounds, five assists and one steal. Tennessee deserves credit for effectively taking Milan Momcilovic out of the game. He attempted only nine shots, which was tied for third on the team; if Iowa State was going to overcome a tough, hard-nosed and defensive-minded team such as the Volunteers, they needed their leading scorer to play well.Where Tennessee really exerted its will was on the interior, on the glass. Without Jefferson, the Cyclones were undersized on the interior and their opponents took full advantage.The Volunteers had nearly as many offensive rebounds, 16, as the Cyclones had total in the game. This was a disappointing end to the season for Iowa State, which really missed Jefferson on the court. They will now head back to Ames, while Tennessee prepares to face off against the Michigan Wolverines in the Elite Eight.Kenneth Teape is an alumnus of SUNY Old Westbury and graduated in 2013 with an Honors Degree in Media Communications with a focus on print journalism. During his time at Old Westbury, he worked for the school newspaper and several online publications, such as Knicks Now, the official website of the New York Knicks, and a self-made website with fellow students, Gotham City Sports News. Kenneth has also been a site expert at Empire Writes Back, Musket Fire, and Lake Show Life within the FanSided Network. He was a contributor to HoopsHabit, with work featured on Bleacher Report and Yardbarker. In addition to his work here, he is a reporter for both NBA Analysis Network and NFL Analysis Network, as well as a writer and editor for Packers Coverage. You can follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @teapester725, or reach him via email at teapester725@gmail.com.
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