Cyclones Crush Wildcats in Record-Breaking Rout at Bramlage Coliseum
MANHATTAN, Kan. - Iowa State didn’t just win in Manhattan on Sunday - they made history.
In a rivalry that’s seen over a century of matchups, the Cyclones delivered their most dominant road performance ever against Kansas State, steamrolling the Wildcats 95-61 at Bramlage Coliseum. The 34-point margin wasn’t just a win; it was a statement - the largest road win Iowa State has ever posted in this series.
From the jump, Iowa State left no doubt. They raced out to a 50-21 halftime lead and never looked back, securing their fourth straight victory in emphatic fashion. The Cyclones were locked in on both ends of the floor, and the numbers tell the story of a team that’s firing on all cylinders.
Balanced and Unselfish - Five Cyclones in Double Figures
What stood out most? The balance.
Five different Cyclones scored in double digits, and nearly every basket came off crisp ball movement and smart decision-making. Iowa State assisted on 28 of their 33 made shots - that’s an eye-popping 84.8% assist rate, the kind of number that speaks to a team playing with chemistry and confidence.
Joshua Jefferson led the way with 19 points, eight rebounds, five assists and a steal - a complete performance from the junior forward. Milan Momcilovic was lights out from deep, hitting 5-of-9 from three and finishing with 18 points. Tamin Lipsey was the engine once again, adding 16 points, nine assists, five rebounds and four steals in another do-it-all performance.
Killyan Toure (13 points) and Nate Heise (11) rounded out the double-figure scorers. Heise and Jefferson also chipped in five assists each, showing that the ball doesn’t stick in this offense - it moves, and it finds the open man.
Four Straight Games With a 30-Point Lead
Since dropping back-to-back games earlier in the season, Iowa State has flipped the switch. This win marked the fourth straight game in which the Cyclones held a lead of 30 or more at some point.
And these weren’t slow builds - Iowa State has been jumping on teams early. In their last three wins, they’ve built 25-point leads before halftime.
It’s not just that they’re winning - it’s the how. The Cyclones are overwhelming opponents with pace, pressure, and precision.
This stretch includes dominant wins over UCF, Oklahoma State, Colorado, and now Kansas State. Each game has looked more convincing than the last.
Nate Heise’s Spark Off the Bench
Nate Heise gave Iowa State a major boost off the bench, and not just with his energy. He poured in 11 points on 4-of-6 shooting, including 3-of-5 from beyond the arc. At one point in the first half, Heise rattled off eight straight points on his own, helping the Cyclones blow the game wide open.
This was Heise’s best scoring performance against a high-major opponent this season, and his most points in a game since a 13-point outing back in early December. But beyond the scoring, he was rock solid across the board: five rebounds, five assists, zero turnovers in 22 minutes. That’s the kind of efficient, high-IQ basketball that wins games - and titles.
Heise showed flashes of this kind of impact late last season. If he’s heating up again, it adds another layer to an already deep and dangerous Iowa State rotation.
Suffocating Defense: Kansas State Held to 21 First-Half Points
While the offense was humming, the defense was equally disruptive. Iowa State made life miserable for Kansas State from the opening tip. The Wildcats managed just 21 points in the first half - tied for the fewest by a power-conference opponent against the Cyclones this season.
Kansas State shot just 31% in the opening 20 minutes and turned the ball over eight times, leading to 13 Iowa State points the other way. The Cyclones’ pressure defense forced rushed shots, disrupted passing lanes, and completely broke the rhythm of the Wildcats’ offense.
It was a clinic in connected team defense - help rotations were sharp, closeouts were aggressive, and every possession felt like a grind for Kansas State.
Haggerty Shines, But Gets Little Help
For Kansas State, junior guard P.J. Haggerty was the lone bright spot.
He put up 23 points on 11-of-21 shooting and added nine rebounds. The 6-foot-4 guard showed why he leads the team in scoring, rebounding, and assists - he was relentless even as the game slipped away.
But outside of Haggerty, the Wildcats struggled mightily. The rest of the team combined for just 38 points on 14-of-37 shooting (37.8%), and that number was buoyed by some late buckets in garbage time. For most of the game, Kansas State’s supporting cast was under 32% from the field.
When one player is doing all the heavy lifting and the rest of the offense can’t find traction, it’s tough to hang with a team as deep and disciplined as Iowa State.
This was more than just a win for the Cyclones - it was a reminder of what this team is capable of when everything clicks. They’re sharing the ball, defending with purpose, and playing with the kind of swagger that makes them a real threat in the Big 12.
If this version of Iowa State shows up consistently, they’re going to be a tough out for anyone - in conference play and beyond.