A rare early-December top-10 showdown tips off at Mackey Arena as unbeaten Iowa State visits unbeaten Purdue in a clash of the nation’s top two offenses. The Cyclones lean on a three-headed scoring attack with veterans Tamin Lipsey and Joshua Jefferson alongside sharpshooting forward Milan Momcilovic, while the Boilermakers counter with elite floor general Braden Smith and a seasoned supporting cast that has already passed multiple high-profile tests. With both teams also defending at a championship level, this one has all the ingredients of a March-quality shootout in December.
Purdue vs. Iowa State Prediction
Top-10 matchups don’t come around too often before Christmas but we are lucky enough to get one this afternoon with the Cyclones traveling to face the Boilermakers.
Two unbeatens enter, one exits. These are literally the top two offense in all of Division I, and that gives us a path to a shootout, even with both teams also defending at a championship level.
For Iowa State, it’s about their thrpurdueee-headed monster. Tamin Lipsey and Joshua Jefferson are both averaging 18.4 points per game, a pair of seniors with over 100 games of experience on their college resumes. The difference maker of late, however, has been Milan Momcilovic (18.1 PPG) with 51 points over his last two games (14-19 on triples).
At 6’8″, he’s got a high release that is difficult to deal with, so when he’s seeing a big rim like he is now, he’s a near impossible cover.
“It is essential to everything we want to do,” said Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger to Eugene Rapay of The Des Moines Register. “We want to control the paint on both ends.”
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The road team has more upside while Purdue holds the edge in consistency. Braden Smith is the best point guard in the nation, and he’s flanked by a pair of veterans averaging north of 15 points per game. That high floor has been on display already this season, helping them outlast Alabama on the road and fueling a dominant effort against a legitimate Texas Tech team two weeks ago.
Upside talent can surpass consistent talent with time, but not this early in the year. The Boilermakers are in a good spot to add a third quality win to their resume, and I think they do so. It’ll be tight at the under-eight-minute time-out, but they fend off Iowa State from the free throw line late: 78-71.
Where to Watch Purdue vs. Iowa State
- Date: Saturday, Dec. 6 | Time: 12 p.m. ET
- Location: Mackey Arena — West Lafayette, Indiana
- TV: CBS | Live stream: CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App
- Streaming on Paramount+ Premium
