ST. LOUIS — Tamin Lipsey had 26 points and 10 assists to help Iowa State make up for the absence of injured All-American Joshua Jefferson, and the second-seeded Cyclones suffocated No. 7 seed Kentucky on defense Sunday, earning a trip back to the Sweet 16 with an 82-63 victory in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.Milan Momcilovic added 20 points and Nate Heise scored 12 for the Cyclones (29-7), who will play third-seeded Virginia or No. 6 seed Tennessee in the Midwest Region semifinals on Friday night in Chicago.It will be the eighth Sweet 16 trip for the Cyclones and the third under T.J. Otzelberger, though the question now is whether they will be whole for it. Jefferson, their second-leading scorer and top rebounder, watched from the end of the Iowa State bench with the ankle that he sprained in a first-round win over Tennessee State still in a boot.Kentucky (22-14) jumped to a 20-9 lead in the opening minutes Sunday before Iowa State fought back for a 31-30 halftime lead.The Wildcats were still within 46-40 with 13 1/2 minutes to play when the Cyclones quickly forced three of the Wildcats’ 20 turnovers. They converted all three of them into baskets at the other end as part of a 13-1 run, which not only allowed Otzelberger’s crew to seize control but also seemed to finally deflate Kentucky.The Wildcats had been buzzing after a buzzer-beater from Otega Oweh forced overtime in a first-round vict …
