Sunday, December 15th, 2024

Today I took Nolan over to Hilton Coliseum, where we watched the #3 Iowa State Cyclones defeat the Omaha Mavericks, 83-51.  The #3 ranking is tied for the highest ranking that the Cyclones have ever had!  

I would say that Keshon Gilbert was the player of the game for Iowa State, as he led the team with 16 points and had 4 assists.  He was one of 5 Cyclones in double figures scoring, as he was joined by Milan Momcilovic (13), Joshua Jefferson (13), Tamin Lipsey (11), and Nate Heise (10).  The Cyclones started out the game kind of sloppy, and midway through the first half the game was tied at 21.  However, the Cyclones would close out the first half on a 20-2 run that helped to decide the game.  

Today marks the fourth time that I have seen the Cyclones play (and defeat) Omaha.  The previous times were in 2018, 2016, and back in 2012.  As for Nolan, this was the second time he has been to a game against Omaha (2016), and it was his 39th men's basketball game overall.  

Iowa State 83, Omaha 51.

Sunday, December 8th, 2024

 Today I took Maxwell over to Hilton Coliseum, where we watched the #6 Iowa State men's basketball team completely overwhelm the Jackson State Tigers, 100-58.  Jackson State is a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), and they are from Jackson, Mississippi.  

Today's game was the 33rd that Maxwell has attended.  One fun thing about today's game is that Maxwell was able to take a nice picture with Cy!  As for myself, this is the second time that I have seen ISU play Jackson State (2021 was the other time).  

I would say that Curtis Jones was the player of the game for the Cyclones, as he led the team with 19 points.  He was joined in double figures scoring by Milan Momcilovic (18), Dishon Jackson (17), Keshon Gilbert (16), and Joshua Jefferson (10).  The Cyclones forced Jackson State into 24 turnovers.  

Maxwell and Cy!

 

Wednesday, December 4th, 2024

 Tonight Nolan and I enjoyed watching the #6 Iowa State Cyclones win a showdown against #5 Marquette, 81-70.  Tonight marks the TENTH time that I have witnessed the Cyclones defeat a top-10 ranked opponent.  The previous games were:

• #7 Kansas in 2024
• #7 Texas in 2023
• #8 Kansas in 2023
• #5 Kansas in 2019
• #8 Texas Tech in 2018
• #9 Baylor in 2017
• #1 Oklahoma in 2016
• #9 Kansas in 2015
• #7 Michigan in 2013

As for Nolan, today's game is the 38th men's basketball game that he has attended.  This was the third time that he has seen ISU play a top-25 ranked team.  The previous times were the win against #8 Kansas in 2023 and a loss to #1 Baylor in 2022.  Nolan did a good job of paying attention during the game, and he wanted to do a cute little handshake with me every time Iowa State made a basket.  We even made it onto the jumbotron in Hilton thanks to Nolan, as he was able to scan the QR code and take a video of us on his phone!

Today's game was great.  There was a sold-out crowd that packed into Hilton, and it was a "white out", where everyone was encouraged to wear white.  Iowa State started out strong in the first half and led 46-37 at halftime.  Marquette did battle back to tie the game at 61 before the Cyclones went on a 14-0 run that took control of the game in the second half.  The player of the game for Iowa State was Keshon Gilbert, who scored 24 points and dished out 7 assists.  He was joined in double figures scoring by Joshua Jefferson (15), Curtis Jones (14), and Dishon Jackson (11).  This win should come in handy for ISU's resume on Selection Sunday.  

GO STATE!

Saturday, November 16th, 2024

 Today Nolan and I had a fun day filled with tailgating and the ISU football game, where we witnessed the Cyclones defeat the Cincinnati Bearcats, 34-17.

Although the final score was a bit lopsided, Iowa State only had a 3 point lead with about 4 minutes to play, when Rocco Becht collected a high snap and turned a broken play into a 15-yard touchdown run to give the Cyclones a 10 point advantage.  My favorite play of the game came in the 3rd quarter, when Stevo Klotz picked up a 1st down on a fake punt.  It was 4th down and 9 to go, and Klotz took a direct snap and rumbled 22 yards.  With the win, Iowa State improves to 8-2 on the season.

Today's game was Nolan's 12th football game, and it was the 4th time that he has seen ISU defeat a conference opponent.  The previous Big 12 victories that he has seen were UCF this year, at Kansas State in 2021, and Texas Tech in 2020.  Today's game was a night game, as kickoff was at 7:00.  By the time game was over and we were back home, it was almost 11:00... so it was a late night for us!  

GO CYCLONES!

Monday, November 11th, 2024

 Tonight I was able to take Nolan to the Iowa State men's basketball game, where the #7 Cyclones defeated the UMKC Kangaroos, 82-56. UMKC is a public university that had 15,327 students (as of 2023), and the Roos are members of the Summit League. 

Today's game was actually the fourth time that Nolan has seem Iowa State play UMKC.  The previous times were in 2019, 2014, and way back in 2013 (which was Nolan's first ever basketball game).  Overall, this was the 37th time that Nolan has been to a men's basketball game.  One fun part about today's game was that Nolan got his picture taken with Cy!

As for the game, Curtis Jones was the player of the game for the Cyclones.  He led the team with 20 points to go along with 5 assists and 5 rebounds.  The other double-digit scorers for Iowa State were Milan Momcilovic (16) and Dishon Jackson (13).  

CY!

Iowa State 82, UMKC 56.

Monday, November 4th, 2024

Tonight Maxwell and I went over to Hilton Coliseum, where we watched the season opening game for Iowa State, as the #5 ranked Cyclones defeated the Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils, 83-44.

As with most season opening games, there are a number of new faces to get used to on the team.  A pair of transfers started the game for Iowa State, including Joshua Jefferson (transfer from Saint Mary's) and Dishon Jackson (transfer from Charlotte).  I thought they both looked good in their first action as Cyclones.  I would say that Tamin Lipsey was the player of the game for Iowa State, as he had 16 points, 4 assists, and 3 steals.  Lipsey was joined in double figures scoring by Keshon Gilbert (17), Joshua Jefferson (10), and Milan Momcilovic (10).  

Tonight marks the 32nd time that Maxwell has attended an Iowa State men's basketball game.  Recently I had looked back on previous blog posts and discovered that I had actually been off on my count of Maxwell's basketball games, so after double checking this is number 32 for him.  I gave him the choice today of getting a clone cone, a soda, candy, or popcorn to enjoy at the game... and he went with popcorn.

As for myself, this is the 5th time that I have watched the Cyclones take on the Delta Devils.  Previous games were: 2019, 2016, 2014, and 2011.  Another thing that I would like to note is that they updated the jumbotron and ribbon boards inside of Hilton.  It all looks very nice, but they did take out the old corner scoreboards that I liked to take pictures beside at the end of games.  I settled for a different scoreboard picture today...

Our selfie at our seats in section 216 before the game.  

Cyclones 83, Delta Devils 44.  

Saturday, November 2nd, 2024

Well, it's homecoming for the Iowa State Cyclones, but unfortunately it was not a "happy homecoming" this year, as Iowa State lost a close one to Texas Tech, 23-22.  

Like usual, I pushed Lavonne around in her wheelchair for the homecoming football game.  We got out the the Bergstrom practice facility around 8:45 this morning, and we spent a good amount of time practicing the songs and formations for the halftime show with the Alumni Band and Varsity Band.  Between the two bands, there was over 700 people on the field for halftime.

After the band practice and some photos, I pushed LaVonne over to the Scheman building where the Alumni Band had lunch and their annual meeting.  After that the band gathered outside of the building and marched into the stadium.  I believe that this was the 10th year that I have helped LaVonne for the homecoming halftime show.  The other years were: 2023 vs Kansas, 2022 vs West Virginia, 2021 vs Oklahoma State, 2019 vs Oklahoma State, 2018 vs Texas Tech, 2017 vs TCU, 2016 vs Kansas State, 2015 vs Texas, and 2014 vs Toledo.  

Today's game came right down to the wire.  Iowa State actually took the lead with 2:11 left in the 4th quarter, when Rocco Becht found Carson Brown for a 44-yard touchdown pass.  However, the Iowa State defense could not hold onto the lead, as Tahj Brooks scored for the Red Raiders on a 5-yard touchdown run with only 20 seconds left on the clock.  Today's game is the 5th time that I have seen Iowa State play Texas Tech in football.  The previous games were Cyclone wins in 2020, 2018, and 2002.  Texas Tech also won back in 2012.  

I am also anxiously awaiting the 2024 presidential election that will take place in just a few days.  I sure hope that we can finally put an end to this Donald Trump nonsense that has plagued the country since he was first elected in 2016.