Iowa State will be without its top player in Sunday’s NCAA Tournament second-round game against Kentucky in St. Louis.
Senior forward Joshua Jefferson, a consensus second-team All-American, has been listed as out on the NCAA’s official injury report.
Jefferson sprained his left ankle just 2:37 into Iowa State’s 108-74 first-round victory over Tennessee State on Friday. Though X-rays showed no break, Jefferson returned to the bench in a walking boot and did not play again.
The 6-foot-8 forward averages 16.4 points, a team-high 7.4 rebounds along with 4.8 assists for the second-seeded Cyclones (28-7), who are shooting for their third Sweet 16 berth in five years under head coach T.J. Otzelberger.
Seventh-seeded Kentucky (22-13) seeks its second consecutive Sweet 16 spot. The Wildcats have not gone past the regional semifinals since 2019.
