LAS VEGAS -- Iowa State star point guard Tamin Lipsey did not play in Tuesday's victory over Creighton and will not play Wednesday game against Syracuse in the Players Era Festival after suffering a lower-body injury against St. John's.
The 6-foot-1 senior left Monday's game against St. John's with 2:09 remaining, walking gingerly to the locker room with his jersey covering his face. He is averaging 18.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 3.2 steals per game this season.
"I don't want him to feel any additional pressure," coach T.J. Otzelberger said after Tuesday's win. "As much as we're competitive and want to win every game, Tamin has done so much for our program, we want him to be healthy, we want his body to feel great, and we want him to be at his best. We'll be disciplined until that time comes."
Lipsey, a two-time All-Big 12 selection and two-time Big 12 All-Defensive Team pick, was hampered by a groin injury down the stretch of last season and missed most of the preseason because of a knee injury. He has started 108 games in his four-year career in Ames.
"The toughness he brings to everything and the competitiveness he brings to everything," Otzelberger said. "You can feel it every possession."
Freshman guard Killyan Toure had his breakout performance for Iowa State on Tuesday, finishing with 20 points and four rebounds, making plays at both ends of the floor to help replace the two-way spark Lipsey provides.
"There's not a better human being, character, player, winner to set the tone and show you how to do things [than Tamin]," Otzelberger said. "Today, Killyan showed everything that he's learned from Tamin and put that into play. I think there's no better way to honor someone that you respect -- as much as I know he honors him -- than to go out there and have that performance. It was great to see."
Iowa State (6-0) is off to its best six-game start since the 2021-22 season, when it opened the season with 12 straight wins.
