Ole Miss basketball vs Iowa State prediction: Our pick for 2025 NCAA tournament second round
MILWAUKEE — Ole Miss basketball is facing one of the Big 12's best teams with a trip to the Sweet 16 on the line.
The No. 6 seed Rebels (23-11) play No. 3 seed Iowa State (25-9) in the second round of the NCAA tournament.
Coach Chris Beard's Rebels advanced by beating No. 11 North Carolina in a game that turned from a blowout into a nail-biter. They held off the Tar Heels' run to win 71-64 on Friday.
Iowa State had a smoother ride to the second round, dominating Lipscomb 82-55.
Here are the keys to the matchup:
Who will guard Iowa State forward Milan Momcilovic?
It just looked easy for Iowa State forward Milan Momcilovic in the first round of the NCAA tournament against Lipscomb.
Momcilovic, who scored 20 points on 8-for-14 shooting, plays big and is no stranger to physicality around the rim. What makes him a matchup problem is his ability to stretch the floor. He can dribble and is just as comfortable functioning as a guard on the wing.
Momcilovic, 6-foot-8 and 225 pounds, has shot 41% on 3-pointers this season. The Rebels have more size than Lipscomb, but Momcilovic will test the best of defenses.
Look for Ole Miss to throw a defensive combination of Malik Dia, Jaemyn Brakefield and Dre Davis at him.
Can the Ole Miss keep Curtis Jones from a huge scoring game?
In some games, Curtis Jones is quiet. In others, he dominates.
The 6-4 guard leads the Cyclones by scoring 17.1 points per game. He has scored more than 30 points in two Big 12 games this season. When he is at his best, he is getting to the free-throw line. Jones attempted 12 free throws in a 22-point game against Kansas State and 10 in a 33-point game against Arizona State.
Jones started his career at Indian Hills Community College in Iowa before transferring to Buffalo for two seasons, then Iowa State. He has proven himself in the Big 12, where he is No. 5 in scoring this season.
Buy Ole Miss NCAA tournament tickets vs. Iowa State
Will Chris Beard's senior-laden roster keep composure in a tight game?
Even before the season, Beard realized his team's veteran leadership would be a strength.
Ole Miss started four seniors and a junior against North Carolina. The same combination likely will start Friday. Their experience, on the court and off it, paid dividends when UNC chipped away at the Rebels' 22-point lead. Thanks in large part to senior point guard Sean Pedulla's shot making, they were able to course-correct and pull out the win.
"This will be a real round of 32 game," Beard said. "There are two teams that are worthy to get into the second weekend. We'll have to play our best for 40 minutes."
Ole Miss vs Iowa State prediction: March Madness second round
Iowa State 74, Ole Miss 68: Ole Miss came out scalding hot in the first game of the NCAA tournament, but Iowa State has a better defense than North Carolina's. Because Iowa State is No. 4 in the Big 12 in offense and defense, there is little room for error.
Sam Hutchens covers Ole Miss for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at Shutchens@gannett.com or reach him on X at @Sam_Hutchens_
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Ole Miss vs Iowa State prediction, pick, odds March Madness
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