Lipsey and Gilbert score 22 each as Iowa State beats VCU 68-64 at ESPN Events Invitational
AP
Nov 23, 2023
KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP) Tamin Lipsey and Keshon Gilbert combined to score 30 of their 44 points in the second half as Iowa State Cyclones rallied from a 15-point deficit to beat VCU Rams 68-64 Thursday night in an opening-round game at the ESPN Events Invitational.
Max Shulga hit two free throws to give the Rams a three-point lead with 1:56 remaining before Lipsey made a layup but missed the and-one free throw. Tre King grabbed the offensive rebound and Lipsey hit a jumper to put Iowa State in front 65-64 just 21 seconds later. After an offensive foul on VCU's Christian Fermin with 1:22 to play, the Rams missed their final three field-goal attempts.
Shulga hit 4 of 7 from 3-point range and led VCU (3-2) with 17 points and eight assists. Michael Belle scored 14 points, Fermin fouled out with 12 on 5-of-5 shooting from the field and Zeb Jackson scored 10.
Iowa State (5-0) trailed by 15 points late in the first half.
Jackson made a 3, followed with a layup 34 seconds later and hit a jumper with 6:02 remaining to give VCU a 59-49 lead. Gilbert answered with a three-point play and added two free throws with 5 minutes left to make it two-possession game. After Shulga hit a 3-pointer to push the lead back to eight points, Gilbert made a layup, King stole a pass from Jackson and a driving layup by Lipsey made it 62-58 with 3:56 to go.
Lipsey scored 14 of his 22 points in the second half and finished with seven rebounds and three steals. Gilbert also scored 22 to go with 10 rebounds. Robert Jones added 12 points.
The Rams lost for the first time since they dropped their season opener 76-65 loss to McNeese.
Iowa State plays the winner between Boise State and Virginia Tech in the semifinals on Friday and VCU takes on the loser in a consolation game.
--- Get poll alerts and updates on AP Top 25 basketball throughout the season. Sign up here --- AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball
Copyright 2025 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
1st Half
IAST
Cyclones
24
VCU
Rams
33
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
Robert Jones vs. Christian Fermin (Rams gains possession)
19:48
Keshon Gilbert shooting foul (Max Shulga draws the foul)
19:48
+1
Max Shulga makes regular free throw 1 of 3
0-1
19:48
+1
Max Shulga makes regular free throw 2 of 3
0-2
19:48
+1
Max Shulga makes regular free throw 3 of 3
0-3
19:21
Tamin Lipsey misses three point jump shot
19:19
Tamin Lipsey offensive rebound
19:10
Tamin Lipsey misses two point layup
19:08
Zeb Jackson defensive rebound
18:52
+2
Christian Fermin makes two point jump shot (Max Shulga assists)
0-5
18:32
+2
Milan Momcilovic makes two point layup
2-5
18:23
Michael Belle turnover (bad pass) (Tre King steals)
17:58
Tamin Lipsey misses two point layup
17:56
Rams defensive rebound
17:37
Michael Belle misses two point jump shot
17:35
Christian Fermin offensive rebound
17:22
Jump ball. Christian Fermin vs. Robert Jones (Cyclones gains possession)
17:22
Christian Fermin turnover (lost ball) (Robert Jones steals)
17:18
Tre King misses two point layup
17:16
Robert Jones offensive rebound
17:15
Robert Jones turnover (lost ball) (Zeb Jackson steals)
16:51
Michael Belle turnover (lost ball) (Tamin Lipsey steals)
16:30
Milan Momcilovic misses two point stepback jump shot
16:28
Rams defensive rebound
16:11
Zeb Jackson turnover (bad pass)
15:59
Zeb Jackson shooting foul (Tamin Lipsey draws the foul)
15:59
TV timeout
15:59
+1
Tamin Lipsey makes regular free throw 1 of 2
3-5
15:59
Tamin Lipsey misses regular free throw 2 of 2
15:59
Rams defensive rebound
15:45
Toibu Lawal turnover (traveling)
15:27
+2
Robert Jones makes two point turnaround jump shot
5-5
15:02
Max Shulga misses three point jump shot
15:00
Tamin Lipsey defensive rebound
14:39
+2
Robert Jones makes two point dunk (Keshon Gilbert assists)
7-5
14:23
Zeb Jackson misses three point jump shot
14:21
Cyclones defensive rebound
14:07
Max Shulga shooting foul (Keshon Gilbert draws the foul)
14:07
+1
Keshon Gilbert makes regular free throw 1 of 3
8-5
14:07
Keshon Gilbert misses regular free throw 2 of 3
14:07
+1
Keshon Gilbert makes regular free throw 3 of 3
9-5
13:54
+2
Christian Fermin makes two point jump shot (Max Shulga assists)
9-7
13:36
Jason Nelson shooting foul (Tamin Lipsey draws the foul)
13:36
Tamin Lipsey misses regular free throw 1 of 2
13:36
+1
Tamin Lipsey makes regular free throw 2 of 2
10-7
13:09
Tre King shooting foul (Toibu Lawal draws the foul)
13:09
+1
Toibu Lawal makes regular free throw 1 of 2
10-8
13:09
Toibu Lawal misses regular free throw 2 of 2
13:09
Tamin Lipsey defensive rebound
12:57
Toibu Lawal blocks Tre King's two point layup
12:55
Michael Belle defensive rebound
12:45
+3
Michael Belle makes three point jump shot (Max Shulga assists)
10-11
12:29
Kuany Kuany shooting foul (Keshon Gilbert draws the foul)
12:29
+1
Keshon Gilbert makes regular free throw 1 of 2
11-11
12:29
+1
Keshon Gilbert makes regular free throw 2 of 2
12-11
12:21
Kuany Kuany misses three point jump shot
12:19
Jackson Paveletzke defensive rebound
12:13
Michael Belle blocks Keshon Gilbert's two point layup
12:11
Jason Nelson defensive rebound
12:03
Curtis Jones shooting foul (Kuany Kuany draws the foul)
12:03
+1
Kuany Kuany makes regular free throw 1 of 2
12-12
12:03
+1
Kuany Kuany makes regular free throw 2 of 2
12-13
11:57
Jason Nelson personal foul
11:57
TV timeout
11:40
Keshon Gilbert misses three point jump shot
11:38
Jason Nelson defensive rebound
11:08
+2
Michael Belle makes two point layup
12-15
10:55
Jackson Paveletzke misses two point layup
10:53
Rams defensive rebound
10:28
Zeb Jackson misses three point jump shot
10:26
Tamin Lipsey defensive rebound
10:21
Keshon Gilbert misses two point driving reverse layup
10:19
Zeb Jackson defensive rebound
10:04
Tamin Lipsey personal foul (Max Shulga draws the foul)
9:49
Alphonzo Billups III misses three point jump shot
9:47
Cyclones defensive rebound
9:24
Curtis Jones misses two point floating jump shot
9:22
Toibu Lawal defensive rebound
9:01
Christian Fermin turnover (traveling)
8:46
Omaha Biliew misses two point layup
8:44
Cyclones offensive rebound
8:39
Christian Fermin blocks Curtis Jones's two point layup
8:37
Cyclones offensive rebound
8:31
Milan Momcilovic misses two point driving layup
8:29
Omaha Biliew offensive rebound
8:21
Tre King turnover (Christian Fermin steals)
8:14
Zeb Jackson misses two point layup
8:12
Christian Fermin offensive rebound
8:05
+2
Christian Fermin makes two point putback layup
12-17
7:51
Christian Fermin blocks Curtis Jones's two point driving layup
7:49
Zeb Jackson defensive rebound
7:40
Alphonzo Billups III turnover (lost ball) (Tamin Lipsey steals)
7:35
Tamin Lipsey misses two point layup
7:33
Toibu Lawal defensive rebound
7:33
Jump ball. (Rams gains possession)
7:33
TV timeout
7:15
+3
Max Shulga makes three point jump shot
12-20
6:55
Tre King turnover (offensive goaltending)
6:43
Michael Belle turnover (lost ball)
6:12
Milan Momcilovic misses three point jump shot
6:10
Robert Jones offensive rebound
6:02
Tamin Lipsey misses three point jump shot
6:00
Max Shulga defensive rebound
5:56
+3
Zeb Jackson makes three point jump shot (Max Shulga assists)
12-23
5:30
Milan Momcilovic misses two point layup
5:28
Keshon Gilbert offensive rebound
5:18
Keshon Gilbert misses two point jump shot
5:16
Keshon Gilbert offensive rebound
5:16
Keshon Gilbert misses two point layup
5:15
Rams defensive rebound
5:03
+2
Christian Fermin makes two point jump shot (Michael Belle assists)
12-25
4:42
Christian Fermin shooting foul (Keshon Gilbert draws the foul)
4:42
+1
Keshon Gilbert makes regular free throw 1 of 2
13-25
4:42
+1
Keshon Gilbert makes regular free throw 2 of 2
14-25
4:15
Toibu Lawal misses two point jump shot
4:13
Rams offensive rebound
4:11
Keshon Gilbert personal foul
4:02
+3
Max Shulga makes three point jump shot (Christian Fermin assists)
14-28
3:40
Curtis Jones misses two point pullup jump shot
3:38
Robert Jones offensive rebound
3:34
Kuany Kuany shooting foul (Robert Jones draws the foul)
3:34
TV timeout
3:34
Robert Jones misses regular free throw 1 of 2
3:34
Robert Jones misses regular free throw 2 of 2
3:34
Curtis Jones offensive rebound
3:25
+2
Robert Jones makes two point layup (Tamin Lipsey assists)
16-28
2:52
+3
Jason Nelson makes three point jump shot
16-31
2:32
Christian Fermin blocks Curtis Jones's two point driving layup
2:30
Robert Jones offensive rebound
2:28
+2
Robert Jones makes two point layup
18-31
2:06
Rams 30 second timeout
2:02
Jason Nelson turnover (bad pass)
1:47
Milan Momcilovic misses three point jump shot
1:45
Zeb Jackson defensive rebound
1:35
+2
Toibu Lawal makes two point alley-oop dunk (Max Shulga assists)
18-33
1:10
Tamin Lipsey turnover (bad pass)
1:10
Cyclones 30 second timeout
0:53
Zeb Jackson misses two point pullup jump shot
0:51
Tamin Lipsey defensive rebound
0:41
+3
Tamin Lipsey makes three point jump shot (Curtis Jones assists)
21-33
0:19
Max Shulga turnover (back court violation)
0:03
+3
Tamin Lipsey makes three point jump shot (Keshon Gilbert assists)
24-33
0:00
End of period
2nd Half
IAST
Cyclones
44
VCU
Rams
31
Time
Team
Play
Score
19:51
+2
Tamin Lipsey makes two point driving layup
26-33
19:29
Zeb Jackson misses three point jump shot
19:27
Rams offensive rebound
19:07
Michael Belle misses two point turnaround jump shot
19:05
Keshon Gilbert defensive rebound
18:45
Milan Momcilovic misses three point jump shot
18:43
Keshon Gilbert offensive rebound
18:31
Tre King offensive foul
18:31
Tre King turnover (offensive foul)
18:21
Kuany Kuany misses three point jump shot
18:19
Michael Belle offensive rebound
18:17
+2
Michael Belle makes two point layup
26-35
18:02
+2
Keshon Gilbert makes two point driving layup
28-35
17:41
+3
Michael Belle makes three point jump shot (Max Shulga assists)
28-38
17:19
+2
Tamin Lipsey makes two point jump shot
30-38
16:49
+2
Christian Fermin makes two point jump shot (Michael Belle assists)
30-40
16:26
+2
Robert Jones makes two point layup (Tamin Lipsey assists)
32-40
16:08
Tamin Lipsey shooting foul (Christian Fermin draws the foul)
16:08
Christian Fermin misses regular free throw 1 of 1
16:08
+1
Christian Fermin makes regular free throw 2 of 2
32-41
15:55
Tamin Lipsey misses two point stepback jump shot
15:53
Michael Belle defensive rebound
15:37
Omaha Biliew personal foul
15:37
TV timeout
15:29
Christian Fermin offensive foul
15:29
Christian Fermin turnover (offensive foul)
15:17
Keshon Gilbert misses two point stepback jump shot
15:15
Rams defensive rebound
14:57
Keshon Gilbert personal foul
14:43
Jason Nelson misses two point jump shot
14:41
Omaha Biliew defensive rebound
14:34
+2
Milan Momcilovic makes two point driving layup (Curtis Jones assists)
34-41
14:11
+3
Max Shulga makes three point stepback jump shot
34-44
13:54
Jason Nelson shooting foul (Tamin Lipsey draws the foul)
13:54
+1
Tamin Lipsey makes regular free throw 1 of 2
35-44
13:54
+1
Tamin Lipsey makes regular free throw 2 of 2
36-44
13:44
Milan Momcilovic shooting foul (Michael Belle draws the foul)
13:44
+1
Michael Belle makes regular free throw 1 of 2
36-45
13:44
+1
Michael Belle makes regular free throw 2 of 2
36-46
13:39
+2
Tamin Lipsey makes two point driving layup
38-46
13:39
Toibu Lawal shooting foul (Tamin Lipsey draws the foul)
13:39
Tamin Lipsey misses regular free throw 1 of 1
13:39
Kuany Kuany defensive rebound
13:11
Jason Nelson misses two point driving layup
13:08
Cyclones defensive rebound
12:45
Curtis Jones misses three point jump shot
12:42
Cyclones offensive rebound
12:42
Kuany Kuany personal foul
12:37
+2
Keshon Gilbert makes two point layup (Curtis Jones assists)
40-46
12:18
Robert Jones shooting foul (Christian Fermin draws the foul)
12:18
+1
Christian Fermin makes regular free throw 1 of 2
40-47
12:18
Christian Fermin misses regular free throw 2 of 2
12:18
Keshon Gilbert defensive rebound
12:04
+2
Curtis Jones makes two point floating jump shot
42-47
11:55
Rams 30 second timeout
11:55
TV timeout
11:42
Zeb Jackson turnover (bad pass) (Tamin Lipsey steals)
11:31
+2
Keshon Gilbert makes two point driving layup
44-47
11:02
Toibu Lawal misses two point jump shot
11:02
Rams offensive rebound
11:02
Curtis Jones personal foul
11:02
TV timeout
11:02
+1
Michael Belle makes regular free throw 1 of 2
44-48
11:02
+1
Michael Belle makes regular free throw 2 of 2
44-49
10:52
+2
Tre King makes two point dunk (Tamin Lipsey assists)
46-49
10:27
Max Shulga misses three point jump shot
10:25
Keshon Gilbert defensive rebound
10:15
Curtis Jones misses three point jump shot
10:13
Cyclones offensive rebound
10:08
Michael Belle shooting foul (Curtis Jones draws the foul)
10:08
Curtis Jones misses regular free throw 1 of 2
10:08
+1
Curtis Jones makes regular free throw 2 of 2
47-49
9:40
+3
Jason Nelson makes three point jump shot (Max Shulga assists)
47-52
9:22
+2
Tre King makes two point layup (Robert Jones assists)
49-52
9:04
+3
Zeb Jackson makes three point jump shot (Max Shulga assists)
49-55
8:48
Curtis Jones misses three point jump shot
8:46
Zeb Jackson defensive rebound
8:29
+2
Zeb Jackson makes two point driving finger roll layup
49-57
8:03
Max Shulga personal foul (Tre King draws the foul)
