LAS VEGAS — On a Monday afternoon when most of America was still firing off work emails or figuring out the missing items on the Thanksgiving wish list, Iowa State and St. John’s served up a feast of their own — a wild, high-stakes, razor-thin 83–82 thriller at the Players Era Festival in Vegas. The No. 15 Cyclones held on to improve to 5–0 under T.J. Otzelberger, while Rick Pitino’s Red Storm dropped to 3–2, left to rue so many what-ifs.
This game had everything: back-and-forth momentum, star power, and a finish that felt straight out of a March bracket. Even though the arena looked more like a showroom than a raucous tourney venue, the on-court product was as compelling as any early-season heavyweight duel.
Clash of Coaches & Talent
Otzelberger — now 5–0 to begin the season — continues to build a Cyclone program that wins the tough ones. St. John’s, meanwhile, leans on Pitino’s urgency and pressure defense; the Red Storm are physical, confident, and very much believing they belong in big-time spots.
Iowa State leaned on the steady hand of Milan Momčilović, who poured in a team-high 23 points, going 8-of-13 overall and hitting 5 of 9 threes while staying perfect from the line (2-for-2). Joshua Jefferson, playing in his hometown of Las Vegas, added 17 points, eight rebounds, and three assists. And Tamin Lipsey, in 34 minutes before eventually exiting with a lower-body issue, scored 16 points.
For St. John’s, Oziyah Sellers led with 20 points, Zuby Ejiofor and Bryce Hopkins chipped in 16 each, and Dillon Mitchell added a gritty 12 points and nine boards. These weren’t role players — they were the backbone of the Red Storm’s fight.
Drama Through 40 Minutes
Iowa State started strong, opening up an early cushion by hitting 8 of its first 11 shots. By the mid-point of the opening half, the Cyclones led 23–13. But St. John’s didn’t lie down. They rallied with a 23–8 run and closed out the half up 45–43.
The second half was a chess match. The Red Storm surged, but the Cyclones responded. Lipsey buried a couple of clutch buckets, Momčilović knocked down triples when his shot checks came late, and Jefferson made plays when it counted.
Late in the game, St. John’s had multiple chances. After a St. John’s run, Sellers buried back-to-back threes to pull ahead. Then came the heart-stopper: Iowa State’s Jefferson threw the ball away with 30 seconds left, gifting the Red Storm a last shot. But Sellers missed a driving layup. Jefferson redeemed himself by sinking two free throws with 9.4 seconds remaining, giving ISU the edge.
St. John’s had one final chance — Ejiofor’s potential game-winner from deep rattled out, and a last-second putback attempt by Mitchell wasn’t enough. The Cyclones escaped, 83–82.
What This Means
This was one of Feast Week’s best games — by national-championship preview standards, not some glorified exhibition. Both teams deserve massive credit:
- Iowa State continues to look like a real March threat. They’re disciplined defensively, deep, and tough.
- St. John’s, under Pitino, is scrappy, confident, and loaded with talent. They may not be perfect yet, but they’re absolutely in the conversation.
And Otzelberger? He just notched his 100th win as Cyclones coach, and this one might be his sweetest neutral-court victory yet.
Next Up
Iowa State now turns its eyes to Creighton on Tuesday — another test, another chance to prove it’s not just good, but elite. St. John’s drops into the loser’s side of the bracket, where Baylor awaits. Expect Pitino’s Red Storm to come out swinging.
Feast Week Reality Check
Yes, the Players Era Festival continues to feel sterile. The Michelob Ultra Arena echoed with shoe squeaks and press corps chatter more than chants. But games like this — high stakes, instant classic feel — justify it to some degree. Still, one can’t help longing for the energy of island tournaments like Maui or Atlantis, where every game feels earned and fans are there.
On a Feast Week that’s supposed to reward fans and build lore, this game was the reminder we needed: the basketball itself is still magical, even if the setting isn’t.
Feast Week is long, loud, and weird this year. But if you’re tuning in — don’t skip this part: Iowa State and St. John’s just reminded us why November matters.
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