Iowa State’s Bench Mob Powers Another Blowout Win, Shows Why Cyclones Are Built for the Long Haul
AMES, Iowa - Forty points. That’s what Iowa State got from its bench in Thursday night’s 97-67 rout of Colorado - a Big 12 season-high for the Cyclones’ reserves and a statement that this team’s depth is more than just a luxury. It’s a weapon.
This wasn’t just a second straight 30-point home win. It was a showcase of how far this group has come since a brief stumble on the road.
Now riding a three-game win streak with an average margin of victory north of 24 points, No. 8 Iowa State (19-2, 6-2 Big 12) is tied for third in the Big 12 and looking every bit like a team finding its groove at the right time.
And what’s driving it? Toughness, consistency, and a bench that’s delivering real impact minutes.
“It feels good to know that not only the five players who start a game are pretty good, but the guys who come from the bench also have an instant impact,” said freshman big Dominykas Pleta, who tied a career-high with 12 points and pulled down a personal-best six rebounds.
Pleta wasn’t alone. Jamarion Batemon, the 6-3 freshman guard from Milwaukee, led the team with 17 points in just 20 minutes. Nate Heise, a steady two-way presence, chipped in with eight points, eight boards, and four assists - a stat line that underscored his all-around value.
Head coach T.J. Otzelberger has seen this coming. He’s been preaching the importance of practice habits all season, and now they’re showing up on game nights.
“Our practice habits have been carrying over to the games,” Otzelberger said. “So now the challenge is staying in that same mental place, bringing that same effort and energy in practice, and then being very headstrong that the things you do in practice are gonna carry over to the games.”
That mindset has been especially evident in Batemon, who’s become a spark plug off the bench. He’s scored in double figures in three of the last five games, despite playing between just seven and 20 minutes in those contests. His role might fluctuate, but his approach doesn’t.
“Whenever I go in there, however long, I’ve just got to do the best I can to impact winning, because that’s the ultimate goal,” Batemon said.
Otzelberger has praised Batemon’s resilience and work ethic, especially after he was held scoreless in last Saturday’s win at Oklahoma State. Instead of sulking, Batemon went right back to work.
“I don’t think I’ve seen anyone have a better response than what Jamarion Batemon did from his performance (at Oklahoma State),” Otzelberger said. “It wasn’t in the game Thursday - it was when we got back Saturday night, it was Sunday morning, Sunday afternoon, all week long. How much he wants to play for our program and team is great.”
That kind of internal drive is what’s made this Cyclone team so dangerous. The starting five - led by names like Joshua Jefferson, Milan Momcilovic, and Tamin Lipsey - brings the firepower. But it’s the depth, the ability to get better when the starters sit, that gives Iowa State an edge most teams don’t have.
Heise’s performance was a perfect example. Otzelberger called it “the best game he’s had in a while,” and it came at a moment when the Cyclones didn’t just maintain their level when the bench checked in - they elevated it.
“Those guys had instant production, so it’s great to see,” Otzelberger said.
Next up: a Sunday road trip to Kansas State (10-11, 1-7 Big 12), a team that’s been struggling mightily. But Otzelberger isn’t letting his team look past anyone. Not with the Big 12 race heating up and every game mattering.
“If we just keep our focus where it needs to be,” Otzelberger said, “we know in the long haul things are gonna go our way.”
Right now, Iowa State isn’t just winning - they’re building something sustainable. A team that’s deep, disciplined, and dialed in. And if the bench keeps bringing the heat like this, the Cyclones might just be scratching the surface of what they can become.