AMES - Whatever early-season lull Iowa State hit back in January, it’s safe to say the Cyclones have snapped out of it - and then some.
Thursday night inside Hilton Coliseum, Iowa State absolutely dismantled Colorado, 97-67, delivering its third straight double-digit win over a Big 12 opponent. The Cyclones didn’t just win - they dominated from the opening tip, looking every bit like the top-10 team they’re ranked to be. And if there was any doubt about whether this group could recapture the form it flashed in late November and early December, that question’s been answered loud and clear.
Momcilovic stays hot, Cyclones come out blazing
Junior wing Milan Momcilovic continues to be the spark plug for this Iowa State offense. He wasted no time getting the Cyclones going, knocking down five quick points to help build an early lead.
By the time Colorado could blink, Momcilovic had already hit 3-of-4 from deep and was 5-of-7 overall from the floor. That kind of efficiency, especially early, is exactly what’s been fueling this recent surge.
And while Momcilovic lit the fuse, the rest of the Cyclones followed suit. Iowa State opened the game on a jaw-dropping 30-4 run - yes, 30 to 4 - and never looked back. During that stretch, they were nearly flawless, hitting 5-of-6 from beyond the arc, including a smooth off-the-dribble triple from Tamin Lipsey right in front of the Colorado bench.
That early onslaught forced Colorado to burn three timeouts before the game was even 10 minutes old. Head coach Tad Boyle tried everything to stop the bleeding - timeouts after made threes, timeouts to bail out trapped players - but nothing could slow Iowa State’s momentum.
A trend, not a fluke
This isn’t a one-off performance. Iowa State’s recent starts have been nothing short of overwhelming. After struggling with slow starts earlier this season - trailing eight straight high-major opponents at the 10-minute mark of the first half - the Cyclones have flipped the script in a big way.
Against UCF, they came out swinging. Then they blitzed Oklahoma State with a 22-4 opening run.
And now, they’ve one-upped themselves with a 30-4 start against Colorado. Add it all up, and over the first 28 minutes and change of those three games, Iowa State has outscored its opponents 82-27.
That’s not just a hot streak - that’s a full-blown identity shift.
Bench depth stepping up
With the game well in hand early, head coach T.J. Otzelberger had the luxury of turning to his bench - and the reserves delivered. Senior Nate Heise and freshman big Dominykas Pleta made the most of their extended first-half minutes.
Heise, in his second year with the program, grabbed a season-high in rebounds and chipped in on the offensive end. Pleta, a 21-year-old freshman from Germany, continues to carve out a bigger role.
He was a force on the offensive glass, grabbing four of his five first-half rebounds on that end and turning two of them into put-back buckets. He even threw down an alley-oop dunk that brought the Hilton crowd to its feet.
Otzelberger has been vocal about what Pleta brings to the table - physicality, screens, strong hands, and a knack for finishing around the rim. That showed up in a big way Thursday.
Heise, meanwhile, continues to be one of those guys who does the little things that don’t always show up in the box score - though they did this time. He had a tip-in off an offensive board and was a key contributor to Iowa State’s eight second-chance points in the first half. Between them, Heise and Pleta accounted for all five of the Cyclones’ offensive rebounds and six of the eight second-chance points before halftime.
As Otzelberger said earlier this year, “Stats don’t ever tell the story,” when it comes to Heise. But Thursday night, they told a pretty good one.
History continues to be made
With the win, Iowa State improves to 19-2 overall and 6-2 in Big 12 play - the best start to a season in program history. The Cyclones have found their rhythm on both ends of the court, and the way they’re jumping on teams early has become a serious weapon. When you pair that kind of start with a defense that can turn up the pressure, it’s a tough combination to beat.
Next up: Rivalry road trip to Kansas State
Iowa State heads to Manhattan on Sunday for a rivalry matchup with Kansas State - the only meeting between the two teams this season. The Wildcats have struggled to find their footing, sitting at 10-11 overall and just 1-7 in Big 12 play. Their lone conference win came against Utah, widely viewed as the league’s bottom team.
Kansas State is led by transfer guard P.J. Haggerty, who’s putting up big numbers - averaging 23 points and dishing out about 4.5 assists per game.
But the Wildcats have been hit hard by injuries and absences. Key contributors like sharpshooter Abdi Bashir, international wing Elias Rapieque, and veteran Mobi Ikegwuruka have all been out, with Ikegwuruka reportedly away from the program altogether.
It’s a game Iowa State should be favored in, but as Big 12 play has shown time and time again, there are no guaranteed wins on the road. Still, if the Cyclones continue to start games the way they have the past three, they’ll be tough to stop - no matter who’s on the other side.