BOSTON — The Iowa State Cyclones are set to meet the Illinois Fighting Illini in the Sweet 16, with teams matching their strengths together with a trip to the Elite Eight on the line.
When is the Iowa State vs. Illinois game?
Iowa State, the 2-seed in the East Region, will place 3-seed Illinois at 9:09 p.m. CT on Thursday, March 28 on TBS.
The game is being played at TD Garden in Boston.
OFFENSE VS. DEFENSE
IOWA STATE: Iowa State is allowing just 61.2 points per game to rank fourth among all Division I teams in scoring defense. Since falling 73-65 to Houston on Feb. 19, the Cyclones haven’t allowed any of their last 10 opponents to exceed 65 points. The Cyclones next face Illinois, which ranks ninth in points per game (84.6) and has averaged 91.3 points over its last four contests.
ILLINOIS: Illinois has won six in a row, and Terrence Shannon Jr. has scored at least 25 points in each of those games. The 6-foot-6 guard has averaged 30.5 points and has shot 52.8% (56 of 106) from the floor during that stretch. He also shown an uncanny knack for drawing fouls during the streak. Over his last five games, Shannon has gone 51 of 58 on free-throw attempts.
AT A GLANCE
Illinois Fighting Illini (28-8, 17-6 Big Ten) vs. Iowa State Cyclones (29-7, 16-5 Big 12)
Boston; Thursday, 10:09 p.m. EDT
FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: Cyclones -1.5; over/under is 146
BOTTOM LINE
The Cyclones are 16-5 against Big 12 opponents and 13-2 in non-conference play. Iowa State is fifth in the Big 12 scoring 75.5 points while shooting 46.5% from the field.
The Fighting Illini are 17-6 against Big Ten teams. Illinois ranks seventh in the Big Ten shooting 35.2% from 3-point range.
Iowa State's average of 6.7 made 3-pointers per game this season is only 0.5 more made shots on average than the 6.2 per game Illinois gives up. Illinois scores 23.3 more points per game (84.6) than Iowa State allows to opponents (61.3).
TOP PERFORMERS
Tamin Lipsey is averaging 12.5 points, 4.9 assists and 2.7 steals for the Cyclones. Keshon Gilbert is averaging 12.1 points and 3.4 rebounds while shooting 37.1% over the last 10 games.
Terrence Shannon Jr. is scoring 23.3 points per game and averaging 4.0 rebounds for the Fighting Illini. Coleman Hawkins is averaging 1.3 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES
Cyclones: 9-1, averaging 68.5 points, 31.3 rebounds, 14.2 assists, 9.8 steals and 3.2 blocks per game while shooting 44.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 57.0 points per game.
Fighting Illini: 9-1, averaging 87.7 points, 37.4 rebounds, 14.2 assists, 3.9 steals and 3.2 blocks per game while shooting 50.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 78.3 points.
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.