Iowa State Blows Past Colorado Behind Deep Bench and Relentless Offense
No. 8 Iowa State didn’t just beat Colorado on Thursday night - they dismantled them.
The Cyclones rolled to a dominant 97-67 win in front of a raucous home crowd, improving to 19-2 overall and 6-2 in Big 12 play. And they did it with a performance that showcased not only their starters, but the full depth of their roster.
Let’s start with freshman guard Jamarion Batemon, who lit it up off the bench. In just 19 minutes, Batemon poured in 17 points, knocking down four threes and giving the Cyclones a serious spark. His confidence and shot-making ability looked anything but freshman-like.
Joshua Jefferson was everywhere. The sophomore forward nearly notched a triple-double, finishing with 13 points, eight rebounds, and five assists. Whether it was crashing the glass, facilitating offense, or knocking down shots, Jefferson was a steady force throughout the night.
Nate Heise had a milestone moment as he passed the 1,200-point mark for his career. He finished with eight points, eight rebounds, four assists, and a steal - a stat line that speaks to his all-around impact. Heise didn’t need to fill up the scoring column to leave his fingerprints all over the game.
The scoring didn’t stop there. Milan Momcilovic added 16 points, including three triples.
Tamin Lipsey scored 14, Killyan Toure chipped in 12, and Dominykas Pleta also dropped 12. That’s six Cyclones in double figures - the kind of balanced attack that makes this team so tough to scout and even tougher to stop.
The tone was set early. Sebastian Rančík, the son of former Cyclone standout Martin Rančík, opened the game with a three. Then Iowa State unleashed a 21-0 run over the next five minutes that completely buried Colorado before they could catch their breath.
That run was a clinic in offensive execution and defensive intensity. Lipsey and Toure got things rolling with layups.
Momcilovic drilled a deep three and followed it up with a lay-in. Jefferson and Heise each added buckets at the rim.
Jefferson then stepped out for a long three - the deepest of the night at 26 feet - and added a pair of free throws. Batemon capped the run with a three of his own before Colorado was forced to burn a timeout just to stop the bleeding.
Colorado finally got on the board with a free throw from Isaiah Johnson, who finished with a game-high 24 points. But Iowa State wasn’t done.
Batemon converted a four-point play. Lipsey hit from deep.
Heise turned a steal into a dunk in transition. It was a blitz, and the Buffaloes had no answers.
To their credit, Colorado responded with a 9-0 run of their own as fouls began to pile up on Iowa State. But even that brief momentum shift didn’t faze the Cyclones.
Enter Dominykas Pleta. The big man checked in midway through the first half and made his presence felt immediately.
He scored a pair of buckets, then added an and-one after another Momcilovic triple. By the time the halftime buzzer sounded, Iowa State led 52-29, having shot a scorching 62.5% from the field and 53.8% from three.
Coming out of the break, it was Toure who picked up where the Cyclones left off, scoring the team’s first five points of the second half. Jefferson continued to impact the game, assisting on a Momcilovic three and calmly sinking four straight free throws to push the lead to 64-37.
From there, it was cruise control - but not complacency. The Cyclones kept their foot on the gas, spreading the scoring around and showing just how deep this roster goes.
Batemon, Toure, Lipsey, and Pleta each added five more points in the second half. Heise chipped in four, Momcilovic added three, and even Anthony Rise and Cade Kelderman got in on the action.
It was the kind of performance that sends a message: this Iowa State team isn’t just good - they’re dangerous. They can beat you in transition, in the half court, from deep, or in the paint. They defend, they share the ball, and they get contributions from everyone who steps on the floor.
On a night when the Cyclones could have coasted, they instead put on a show. And if this game is any indication, Iowa State is just getting warmed up.