No. 5 Cyclones Fall to No. 4 Auburn in Final Seconds

In a thrilling and heartbreaking finish, the No. 5 Iowa State Cyclones fell to the No. 4 Auburn Tigers 74-73 on Saturday night, as Auburn’s Wendell Green Jr. hit a game-winning jumper with just two seconds remaining.

What Happened? The Key Details You Need to Know

The Cyclones led by 10 points with just over seven minutes remaining in the game, but Auburn rallied back and took the lead with 1:56 left on the clock. After Iowa State tied the game at 73-73 with 18 seconds left, Auburn had the final possession. Green Jr. drove to the basket and hit a fadeaway jumper over multiple defenders to give the Tigers the win.

Why Does This Matter? The Bigger Picture

The loss is a major setback for the Cyclones, who had been 14-0 at home this season and were seen as a potential Final Four contender. The defeat also snapped Iowa State’s nine-game winning streak and dropped them to 19-5 overall, 9-3 in Big 12 play.

Voices from the Scene – What Are People Saying?

“It’s a tough one to swallow,” said Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger. “We had a chance to win the game, but we didn’t make the plays down the stretch. We have to learn from this and move on.”

What’s Next? Future Implications and Takeaways

The Cyclones will look to bounce back on Tuesday when they host the No. 18 Kansas State Wildcats. The game is scheduled to tip off at 7 p.m. CT at Hilton Coliseum.