LAS VEGAS (AP) — Freshman Killian Toure scored a career-high 20 points and No. 15 Iowa State beat Creighton 78-60 on Tuesday in the second round of the Players Era Championship.
Despite the absence of top scorer Tamin Lipsey, who injured his groin on Monday victory with a score of 83-82 over St. John's, the Cyclones kept Creighton at arm's length for most of the game.
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Joshua Jefferson had 18 points and 10 rebounds. Blake Buchanan had 12 points and nine rebounds and Milan Momcilovic finished with 10 points for the Cyclones (6-0).
Creighton (3-3) had four players finish in double figures, led by Jacen Green and Josh Dix, who each had 15 points. Hudson Greer scored 12 points and Isaac Traudt had 10.
Lipsey, who suffered a groin injury late last season and an MCL injury that sidelined him for six weeks in the preseason, has been the team's spark plug, averaging 18.4 points on 50.7 percent shooting.
Instead, it was France native Toure, who entered the game averaging 8.6 points per game but sparked the offense with 10 points on 50% shooting in the first half.
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Iowa State established its dominance early at the rim and eventually outscored the Bluejays in the paint, 52-20.
The Cyclones also scored 19 points off Creighton's 17 turnovers.
Next
Both teams will continue play in the Players Era Championship on Wednesday, with opponents and times still to be determined.
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