Bruised but resilient guard Keshon Gilbert sets the tone in ISU’s top-six win over Marquette – CycloneFanatic.com

Iowa State University Cyclones guard Keshon Gilbert (10) attempts a shot around Marquette Golden Eagles forward David Joplin (23) during the first half of NCAA men’s basketball at Hilton Coliseum on Wednesday, Dec. 4 throwing guard Chase Ross (2) around. 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

AMES – Iowa State senior guard Keshon Gilbert stood there covered in blood, his split nose covered in clotting cream.

Hilton Coliseum roared as the star senior point guard re-entered Wednesday’s bloodthirsty, skin-ripping Big 12-Big East Challenge game between the No. 6 Cyclones and fifth-ranked Marquette – wearing his usual No. 10 jersey been replaced with a chip and clean No. 51.

But had he ever worn this number on any level?

“No, sir,” said Gilbert, who scored a game-high 24 points in front of a sellout crowd of 14,267 as ISU (6-1) defeated the previously undefeated Golden Eagles 81-70.

Fittingly, the most famous and bold Cyclone to wear the number in recent times was at the front Jared Homanwho pounded the glass and beat up opposing players in the mid-2000s. On Wednesday, Gilbert cut and dice with abandon, scoring 18 points on 5-for-8 shooting in the first half. He also made 8 of 8 from the free throw line and dished out a team-best seven assists.

“It’s really difficult to stop him,” said Golden Eagles head coach Shaka Smart, whose team hadn’t given up more than 74 points to opponents this season. “I mean, no one has done that before. I’m sure every team Iowa State has played has had the game plan of, “Okay, we’ve got to keep this guy off the floor.” And he keeps getting into the paint. I think it starts with how he is in transition. If you’re really, really greedy – we always say be greedy in a good way – when it comes to getting into the team, you have to fight to get there before the defense is up and he does. That’s a phenomenal job.”

Forward Joshua Jefferson added 15 points and 12 rebounds for ISU and was a big transfer man Dishon Jackson scored 11 points, seven boards and two blocked shots. Jefferson’s end-to-end fastbreak spin move for a layup that led to a three-point play was the best answer to Marquette’s 10-0 second-half run with 9:06 left Finally the score increased to 61:61. When Jefferson’s free throw failed, the Cyclones led 71-61 – and the former St. Mary’s star basked in the rousing cheers of the home crowd.

“I thought, ‘I’m really glad I came here,'” said Jefferson, who sank seven of his 10 field-goal attempts. “I made the best decision for my future. It’s been great since I’ve been here. It feels like home.”

ISU scored four more points to extend its winning margin to 14-0, and after the Golden Eagles’ Royce Parham broke the run with a mid-range jump shot, the Cyclones broke the run. Nate Heise drilled a 3-pointer. Heise had already had a big impact on the game with strong defense and a rushing dunk in the first half, but he added a blocked shot late in the game.

“He was phenomenal,” ISU head coach TJ Ötzelberger said Heise, who didn’t miss a single shot while scoring seven points off the bench. “He was physical. He was competitive. He was hard. I thought Nate made a big difference for us defensively down the stretch.”

Few Cyclones are tougher than Gilbert, who received a standing ovation from his teammates after he trotted out of the locker room cleaned and reclaimed the field. It’s the second time this season that his nose is bloody, and it probably won’t be the last – and he’s not just okay with this physical condition. He’s built for that.

“I would say it was just growing up and having to work for everything, like nothing,” said Gilbert, who averaged a 22.5 in ISU’s two matchups with top-five opponents this season points scored. “I won’t lie. But as I grew up and had to work and face challenges at a young age, I learned to keep fighting and never give up.”

In return, he encourages his teammates, especially in the most important games at the start of the season.

“He is the engine that drives us right now,” said Otzelberger.