PRIMER: No. 6 Iowa State at No. 23 BYU

Who: Iowa State (23-3, 10-3 Big 12) at BYU (19-7, 7-6 Big 12)

Where: Marriott Center (17,978) – Provo, Utah

When: Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026 – 9:30 p.m. CT

Watch: ESPN // Dave Fleming (PxP) & Sean Farnham

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

Tipping Off: After winning a pair of Top 10 matchups at Hilton Coliseum over the weekend, Iowa State will embark on its final multi-game road trip of the season as it heads to the Beehive State. First up, a third-straight ranked matchup with No. 23 BYU.

Iowa State will be back on the court for the first time since Monday, when the team used a double-figure, second-half comeback to best No. 2 Houston. ISU is now one game back of first place in the Big 12 standings.

BYU was dealt a crushing blow last week, as it was announced that senior star Richie Saunders will miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL. The short-handed Cougars fell in their last game at No. 4 Arizona on Wednesday night.

Storylines:

At No. 6 in the AP Top 25 Poll, Iowa State has been ranked in the AP Top 25 for 47 straight weeks, the fifth-longest streak in the nation. It is the second-longest streak in the Big 12 behind Houston's 121, which is the longest streak in the country.
- The Cyclones and Cougars are the only two Big 12 schools to have streaks of at least 25 weeks.
The Cyclones started the season 16-0, the best start in school history. ISU is now 23-3 for the second time in program history as it's tied for the best mark through 26 games by a Cyclone team.
In five seasons under Coach Otzelberger, the Cyclones have been known for their defense, as they have ranked as a top-15 unit in the country each year, and 2025-26 is no different (according to KenPom defensive rating).
The Cyclones had three players named to the Naismith Starting Five Midseason Top 10 Watch lists – Tamin Lipsey, Milan Momcilovic and Joshua Jefferson.
Joshua Jefferson has recorded two triple-doubles this season, tied for the most in the country.
- Jefferson became the first player in program history to have multiple triple-doubles in a career.
- He is just the third Big 12 player with multiple triple-doubles, but is the first to accomplish both in conference games.
Milan Momcilovic has been the nation's best marksman this season, as the junior leads the country in 3-point percentage.
- Momcilovic has six 25-plus point games so far this season for ISU.
Tamin Lipsey holds the most steals in program history and is in the top three in Big 12 history for career steals.
- He holds the most wins against Big 12 opponents by any active player.

From the Notes:

As a head coach, Otz is 217-111 overall and has guided the Cyclones to a 118-48 record over the last four years.
- He earned his 100th win at Iowa State against HOF coach Rick Pitino and No. 14 St. John's in the Players Era Championship opener on Nov. 24.
  - He was the quickest coach in school history to 100 career wins, doing so in 145 games.
- He then earned his 200th win over his mentor and former head coach Greg McDermott on Nov. 25.
- His 118 wins are the most in the first five years in ISU history.
- Otz is the quickest coach in school history to 100 career wins, doing so in 145 games.
With its home win over No. 2 Houston, Iowa State now has 29 wins over top 25 teams since Otzelberger took over (2021-22). That is the fifth-most in the nation during that stretch.
Otz has led Iowa State to four 20-plus win seasons, joining Orr (5) and Hoiberg (4) as the only ISU coaches to do so four-plus times.
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.
- In four postseason appearances, Otzelberger has five NCAA Tournament wins – the most by any coach in program history.
Otz currently holds the school's highest winning percentage by a head coach.
As of Thursday, the Cyclones are ranked No. 6 in the NET. Iowa State slots in at No. 7 in the KenPom rankings and is No. 6 in ESPN's Basketball Power Index.

Switching Sides:

This will be the 11th all-time meeting between Iowa State and BYU. The Cyclones lead the all-time series, 7-3, but the Cougars have taken the last two games – both of which came last season.
- This will be the second time the teams have met in Provo as members of the Big 12 Conference.
- ISU is 2-1 all-time against BYU on the road.
BYU freshman sensation AJ Dybansta surpassed BYU legend Danny Ainger for most 20-point performances by a BYU freshman last time out.
- Dybasnta now has 19 games where he has scored at least 20 points.
- By scoring 35 points against Arizona, Dybansta also passed Ainge for the most points by a BYU freshman in school history. Ainge's record had stood since 1978.
Earlier this season, BYU cracked the Top 10 in the AP Poll for the first time in program history, making it as high as No. 8.
With ISU making the "mountain trip" to both BYU and Utah, it will attempt to be just the second school to sweep out West. TTU (2024-25) and Houston (2025-26) are the only programs to have done so.
The Cougars were picked to finish third out of 16 in the Big 12 men's basketball preseason poll after finishing tied for third place last season.
BYU Head Coach Kevin Young is in his second year at the helm of the Cougar program. Young is 45-17 with the Cougs after spending the previous nine years coaching in the NBA.
- Young set a BYU record last year for most wins in a debut season (26) and is one of just three Cougar coaches to lead the school to a Sweet 16.
As of Thursday, BYU is ranked No. 21 in the NET. The Cougars are No. 22 in KenPom and No. 19 in ESPN's Basketball Power Index.

PRIMER: No. 6 Iowa State at No. 23 BYU

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PRIMER: No. 6 Iowa State at No. 23 BYU

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