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Final Score: Tennessee 73, Iowa State 62.
Rick Barnes has the Volunteers in the Elite Eight for the third straight year. Tennessee dominates the glass, with a 43 to 22 advantage in rebounding. The Volunteers upset a depleted Iowa State team without Joshua Jefferson and will now face #1 seed Michigan on Sunday. Tennessee has never been to a Final Four, and the task on Sunday will be quite tall, literally and figuratively, against Michigan and its mammoth front line. With that in mind, Tennessee does bring a physicality and defensive mindset that could give Michigan issues, though the Wolverines are clearly the favorite. As for Iowa State, the Cyclones lose again in the Sweet Sixteen, where the program is 1-7 all time! The focus now is whether or not Cyclones' Head Coach T.J. Otzelberger will get poached by North Carolina or another blue blood (my money says he stays in Ames). Make the jump to see the game's final stats and read my live running reactions of the end of Tennessee's victory against Iowa State.
Second Half, Final Four Minutes Live Reactions
Tennessee leads 73-62 with 1:10 remaining. Timeout Iowa State after a Jacob Buchanan dunk. Tennessee got five big points from freshman star Nate Ament, who hit a tough shot in the lane that bounced off the back iron and fell through. After a careless turnover, Ament made amends with a wide-open three. The United Center sounds like a funeral as the Iowa State fans can sense the season coming to an end.
Tennessee leads 68-59 with 3 minutes remaining. Timeout Tennessee to avoid a 5-second violation. Heise split two free throws. Iowa State is 14/23 from the free throw line, Tennessee is 8/13.
Second Half, Under-Four Timeout Live Reactions
Tennessee leads 68-58 with 3:00 remaining. Iowa State's Nate Heise will be shooting two free throws. Tennessee has taken a couple of quick threes, with Ja'Kobi Gillespie rattling one in. Luckily, his one miss was rebounded by Jaylen Carey, who found J.P. Estrella for a dunk. Tennessee is +20 in rebounding tonight against the Cyclones, who are without Joshua Jefferson. Milan Momcilovic just hit a big three for Iowa State, but has been limited to just seven shots tonight. Man, can Rick Barnes coach up and execute defensive game plans!
Note: I am joining this game with 5:16 remaining. Tennessee leads 63-52.
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