Iowa State’s First-Half Dominance Sends a Message: This Team’s for Real
There are statement wins, and then there are statement halves. What Iowa State did in the opening 20 minutes against Oklahoma State wasn’t just impressive-it was the kind of basketball that makes you sit up, take notice, and maybe start penciling in some dates in early April.
The Cyclones stormed out of the gates at Hilton Coliseum like a team with something to prove-and they proved plenty. By halftime, they’d built a 30-point cushion, and while the second half didn’t match the fireworks of the first, the tone had already been set.
This Iowa State team is for real. And if they can bottle what they showed in that first half, the national championship conversation isn’t just hopeful chatter-it’s legitimate.
Tom Crean Sees It Too
Former college coach and now NBC Sports analyst Tom Crean isn’t one to hand out praise lightly. But during the broadcast, he made a bold declaration that Cyclone fans will be replaying for a while.
“All the high majors and mid-majors have money, but not all have connectivity,” Crean said. “That’s why T.J.
Otzelberger is going to have a chance to win the national championship. That connectivity is for real.”
That word-connectivity-isn’t just coach-speak. It’s the thread that ties this Iowa State team together.
It’s seen in the way they move the ball, the way they rotate defensively, the way they swarm in transition. It’s chemistry.
It’s trust. And it’s been the foundation of their 18-2 start.
First-Half Clinic
Let’s break down that first half, because it was a masterclass.
- Shooting: 62.1% from the field, including 9-of-17 from three. That’s not just hot-it’s scorching.
- Defense: Turned 10 Oklahoma State turnovers into 14 points.
- Paint Presence: Outscored the Cowboys by 16 down low.
- Transition Game: 12-0 in fast-break points. That’s not a typo.
- Ball Movement: 14 assists on 18 made baskets. That’s elite-level sharing.
That’s the kind of half that turns heads in selection committee rooms. That’s the kind of half that gets analysts talking about Final Fours.
The Milan Momcilovic Show
Milan Momcilovic has been on a tear, and Saturday was no exception. The 6-foot-8 wing came out firing, hitting six of his first eight shots and dropping 19 points before the break. He’s been playing at a different level lately-over his last three games, he’s scored 34, 20, and 29 points while shooting 57% from the field and 55% from three.
He’s not just a shooter-he’s a problem. And when he’s rolling, Iowa State becomes a nightmare to defend.
The Dynamic Duo: Momcilovic and Jefferson
While Momcilovic was lighting it up, Joshua Jefferson was right there with him. The two combined for 49 points on 14-of-20 shooting, including 9-of-13 from beyond the arc. That’s not just efficient-that’s surgical.
Try stopping one? Good luck.
Try stopping both? Even better luck.
That’s what makes this team so dangerous. It’s not just one guy carrying the load.
It’s a balanced, connected attack that can hit you from multiple angles.
A Word on the Second Half
Yes, the second half was a bit of a letdown. The Cyclones committed 12 turnovers and were outscored over the final 20 minutes.
But let’s be clear-this wasn’t a collapse. Oklahoma State is a capable team, and Iowa State had already done the damage.
Still, Otzelberger and his staff will use that second half as a teaching moment. In the Big 12, you can’t afford to take your foot off the gas, even with a 30-point lead. The grind of the conference schedule demands consistency, not just brilliance in spurts.
Culture Over Stars
This Iowa State team isn’t built on rented talent. It’s built on buy-in.
It’s built on development. It’s built on culture.
That’s what Crean was getting at with his “connectivity” comment. And it echoes what former Cyclone Breece Hall once said: “Five-star culture beats five-star players.”
That culture is showing up in every huddle, every defensive rotation, every unselfish extra pass. It’s not just talk-it’s how this team plays.
Looking Ahead
Can Iowa State replicate that first-half performance every night? Of course not.
No team can sustain that level of intensity and execution over a full conference slate. But what they’ve shown is that the ceiling is sky-high-and when they’re locked in, they can run with anyone in the country.
Next up is Colorado at home, and that second-half stumble against Oklahoma State makes Thursday’s game a chance to show growth. A chance to prove that the Cyclones aren’t just a one-half wonder, but a team built for the long haul.
Because if that first half was a glimpse of what’s possible?
Then yeah, go ahead and start thinking about what a championship parade might look like in Ames.