Storm Warning: A golden opportunity

HOUSTON, TX – FEBRUARY 22: Iowa State Cyclones guard Tamin Lipsey (3) brings up the ball in the second half during the college men's basketball game between the Iowa State Cyclones and Houston Cougars on February 22, 2025 at Fertitta Center in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Two days after defeating Kansas, the Cyclones are back in Hilton Coliseum to take on the Houston Cougars. With two recent losses for Arizona, Houston now sits atop the Big 12 standings at 11-1, while Iowa State is in a three way tie for third. Since their loss at Texas Tech, the Cougars have won six straight, with all but one by double figures. Iowa State is currently opening at a -2.5 favorite, with ESPN giving Iowa State a 56.5% chance to win. 

Saturday was fun for Iowa State

In the highest profile game at Hilton so far, Iowa State demonstrated why they are still one of the contenders of the Big 12 and in college basketball as a whole. Five players scored into double figures, the cyclone defense won the turnover battle 13-6, and consistently looked like the better team starting with roughly six minutes to go in the first half. While the first eight minutes only produced a 6-6 tie, a 20-2 run to close out the half was the decider that sent the crowd into a frenzy. Hitting five threes in the first four minutes is what ultimately spelled doom for the Jayhawks, as Iowa State would prevail 74-56. After losing by 21 in Lawrence, Iowa State looked like the team with a point to prove, and they proved it with an exclamation mark. 

One big takeaway from the afternoon is how engaged the crowd was from start to finish. It was certainly a tall task, with Iowa State falling in a trap game at TCU and Kansas entering the bout on an eight game win streak. There was energy from the jump and it sustained itself until the final buzzer sounded and the speakers blasted Mr. Brightside. In one of the toughest projected matchups in the…

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Publish date : 2026-02-16 23:30:00

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