ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - MARCH 22: Head coach Mark Pope of the Kentucky Wildcats reacts against the Iowa State Cyclones during the second half in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Enterprise Center on March 22, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri.  (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI – MARCH 22: Head coach Mark Pope of the Kentucky Wildcats reacts against the Iowa State Cyclones during the second half in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Enterprise Center on March 22, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
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With Iowa State star Joshua Jefferson sidelined by an ankle injury and Kentucky within one point of the No. 2 seed Cyclones at halftime, the 7th-seeded Wildcats were in a spot to secure an upset Sunday with a Sweet 16 spot on the line. 

But Iowa State seized control of the second half and pulled away for a 82-63 blowout to secure its spot in the NCAA tournament’s second weekend. Kentucky’s season, meanwhile, ends short of the Sweet 16, a disappointing finish for the Wildcats in their second season under head coach Mark Pope. 

Iowa State dominated the ball in the second-round matchup, forcing 20 Kentucky turnovers and securing a 60-44 advantage in shots from the field. 

This story will be updated.