With Iowa State star Joshua Jefferson sidelined by an ankle injury and Kentucky holding a late first-half lead, the 7th-seeded Wildcats were in a spot to secure an upset Sunday over the second seeded Cyclones with a Sweet 16 spot on the line.
But Iowa State seized control late in the first half and pulled away for an 82-63 blowout to secure its spot in the NCAA tournament's second weekend. Kentucky's season, meanwhile, ends short of the Sweet 16, a disappointing finish for the Wildcats in their second season under head coach Mark Pope.
Iowa State dominated the ball in the second-round matchup, forcing 20 Kentucky turnovers and securing a 60-44 advantage in shots from the field.
Kentucky was in control early and held a 30-23 with 2:07 remaining before halftime. But the wheels started to fall off in the half's final two minutes. Iowa State finished the stanza on an 8-1 run, aided by three Kentucky turnovers in the final 1:29.
By the break, Kentucky had turned the ball over 12 times. And the late Iowa State run set the tone for a dominant second half in which the Cyclones erupted for a 51-33 advantage.
Again, they did this without second-team All-American Jefferson, who left Iowa State's first-round win over Tennessee State with an ankle injury that left him on crutches after the game. The Cyclones ruled Jefferson out prior to tip on Sunday and he watched the game from the bench in street clothes with a walking boot on his left ankle.
This story will be updated.