No. 8 Iowa State at No. 5 Houston Primer

Who: No. 8 Iowa State (21-5, 11-4 Big 12) at No. 5 Houston (22-4, 14-1 Big 12)

Where: Fertitta Center (7,100) – Houston, Texas

When: Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025 – 1 p.m. CT

Watch: ESPN // Dan Shulman (PxP), Jay Bilas (Analyst) & Jess Sims (sideline)

Listen: Cyclone Radio Network // John Walters (PxP) & Eric Heft (Analyst)

Tipping Off: For the second time in the last two weeks, Iowa State will be part of ESPN's College Gameday, as it heads to Houston to face off with the Cougars in a top ten matchup. The Cyclones will look to hand the first-place Coogs just their second conference loss of the season.

Last time out, Iowa State dispatched of Colorado for the third time this season, defending its home court. A well-balanced Cyclone attack that saw five players finish in double figures helped power ISU past the Buffaloes to move to 14-1 at home this year.

Houston looks to continue to distance itself from the rest of the league and earn its 15^th conference win of the season. The Cougars boast the top defense in the conference, holding opponents to an average of 57.6 points per game and 38.3 percent shooting.

Storylines:

Iowa State's "sixth starter," Curtis Jones, became an actual starter for seven games but has gone back to the bench with the return of Milan Momcilovic. Jones has earned a Big 12 Player of the Week award, was named to the Jerry West Award Top 10 List and was named to the Wooden Award Late Season Top 20 Watch List along with teammate Keshon Gilbert.
Speaking of Gilbert, he has been the team's "engine," has taken a leap in his second season as a Cyclone, leading the team in minutes and assists. He has been named the Big 12 Player of the Week twice this season, was named to the Bob Cousy Award Top 10 and was named to the Wooden Award Late Season Top 20 Watch List with teammate Curtis Jones.
A Preseason All-Big 12 First Team selection, Tamin Lipsey has been the glue of Iowa State's team. A known defensive menace, Lipsey leads the team in steals and is two steals away from becoming the school's all-time steals leader.
Saint Mary's transfer Joshua Jefferson has been a revelation for the Cyclones this season. Jefferson leads the team in rebounding, has nine double-doubles and has earned five Big 12 Newcomer of the Week awards.
Sophomore wing Milan Momcilovic averages just over 10 points per game and shoots the 3-ball at the highest clip on the team at 43 percent. After missing just about a month of game action due to injury, he returned to the starting lineup on Feb. 8 against TCU.

From the Notes:

As a head coach, Otz is 190-103 overall and has guided the Cyclones to a 91-40 record over the last four years.
- ISU is 59-9 in games at Hilton Coliseum under Otz. His 59 home wins during that time are tied for the fifth-most nationally.
Coach Otzelberger is the only Iowa State men's basketball coach to take multiple teams to the Sweet 16.
- He was the 51st coach in NCAA Division I history to take a team to the Sweet 16 twice in his first three years on the job.
- Otz will attempt to become the first coach in program history to take a team to the NCAA Tournament in his first four years as coach.
Iowa State has been ranked in the AP Top 10 for 23 straight weeks, the longest streak in the country.
The Cyclones are ranked No. 8 in the NET. Iowa State slots in at No. 9 in the KenPom rankings and is No. 7 in ESPN's Basketball Power Index.

Switching Sides:

This will be the tenth all-time meeting between Iowa State and Houston. In three meetings last year, Iowa State held the advantage, winning two of three.
- The last two times these teams met was in the Big 12 Tournament title game in which ISU beat then-No. 1 Houston by 28.
Houston was picked to finish second in the Preseason Big 12 Poll, receiving five first place votes.
- The Cougars currently sit in first place and have just one conference loss in 15 conference games.
Last time out, Houston beat Arizona State on the road, marking its 12th-straight conference road victory – the longest such streak in the history of the league.
Houston coach Kelvin Sampson is in his 11th year at the helm of the Cougar program, where he is 286-83.
- Overall, Sampson is 786-353 in his 36-year head coaching career, which includes stops at Washington State, Indiana, Oklahoma and Montana Tech.
- Sampson is one of 16 coaches in NCAA history to lead 2+ different schools to NCAA Final Fours (1 – Oklahoma • 1 – Houston).
Houston is ranked No. 3 in the NET. The Cougars are No. 3 in KenPom and No. 2 in ESPN's Basketball Power Index.

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Players Mentioned

Keshon Gilbert

Joshua Jefferson

Curtis Jones

Tamin Lipsey

Milan Momcilovic

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics