Iowa State Rolls Past Eastern Illinois, Moves to 11-0 Behind Balanced Attack and Second-Half Surge
AMES - It took a little time to get going, but once Iowa State found its rhythm, there was no looking back. The Cyclones tightened the screws on both ends and cruised to a 78-53 win over Eastern Illinois on Sunday afternoon at Hilton Coliseum, pushing their record to a spotless 11-0 - just the third time in program history they’ve started a season with that kind of perfection.
This win wasn’t about one star taking over. It was about a deep, balanced roster doing what it does best: defending, sharing the ball, and finishing at the rim. Four Cyclones hit double figures - Milan Momcilovic, Blake Buchanan, Joshua Jefferson, and Killyan Toure - with Buchanan leading the way with 14 points, his best scoring performance yet in an Iowa State jersey.
Jefferson pulled down a team-high nine rebounds and chipped in at the line, while Tamin Lipsey turned in another steady performance at the point. The junior guard added nine points, dished out seven assists, and swiped five steals - a stat line that speaks to his growing command of the floor on both ends.
Second-Half Surge Seals It
If there’s been a theme to Iowa State’s early-season dominance, it’s their ability to flip the switch after halftime - and Sunday was no exception. Up 44-28 at the break, the Cyclones came out of the locker room firing, uncorking a 7-0 run that forced Eastern Illinois head coach Marty Simmons to burn a timeout less than three minutes into the second half.
The burst started at the line - Jefferson and Toure each knocked down free throws - then Buchanan and Momcilovic finished strong at the rim. And right after the timeout, Momcilovic drew contact on a three-point attempt for the second time in the game, knocking down all three free throws to cap a 10-0 run before the Panthers could even get on the board in the second half.
That stretch didn’t just swing the momentum - it slammed the door shut.
Threes Not Falling? No Worries
Iowa State came into the game with one of the nation’s best three-point percentages - over 43% - but the long ball wasn’t falling on Sunday. For the second straight game, the Cyclones struggled from deep, hitting just 4-of-16 from beyond the arc.
But here’s the thing: it didn’t matter.
When the perimeter shots weren’t there, Iowa State simply went inside. They racked up 36 points in the paint and added 13 made free throws by the under-8 media timeout in the second half.
That kind of interior efficiency translated to 1.226 points per possession - a number any coach in America would take in a heartbeat. And it wasn’t just about volume - the Cyclones were scoring on more than 56% of their possessions and shooting over 54% from the floor at that point.
This is a team that can beat you in multiple ways. If the threes aren’t falling, they’ll muscle you inside.
If you crowd the paint, they’ll kick it out. That versatility is what makes them so dangerous.
High-Flying Highlights Keep Coming
The Cyclones didn’t just win - they did it with style.
By halftime, Iowa State had already thrown down five dunks, three of them courtesy of Buchanan, who continues to be a force around the rim. The freshman big man slammed home two dunks in under a minute midway through the first half, then added a third just before the break.
Toure, meanwhile, set the tone early. Less than two minutes into the game, he tied things up with a powerful dunk, and later added a two-handed slam that gave Iowa State an 11-10 lead. That second jam came off a defensive sequence where he and Buchanan combined to force a turnover - a perfect example of how this team turns defense into offense in a heartbeat.
Coming into Sunday, Buchanan led the team with 17 dunks on the season, with Toure right behind him at 10. As a team, Iowa State had already thrown down 40 slams this year - a number that puts last season’s total of 66 well within reach before conference play even begins.
What’s Next
The Cyclones will look to keep the perfect start rolling when they host Long Beach State next week at Hilton Coliseum. The Beach are 2-9 and will face Pepperdine before heading to Ames, but this will be their only game against a high-major opponent in the nonconference slate.
For Iowa State, it’s another opportunity to fine-tune things before Big 12 play ramps up - and if Sunday’s performance is any indication, this team is trending in the right direction. Balanced, efficient, and relentless on both ends, the Cyclones aren’t just winning - they’re building something that looks built to last.