Iowa State Prepares for Another Heavyweight Clash at Hilton Coliseum: No. 6 Cyclones Set to Host No. 2 Houston
AMES, Iowa - Saturday night at Hilton Coliseum wasn’t just a game - it was a statement. Iowa State didn’t just beat No.
9 Kansas; they dismantled them, 74-56, behind a roaring, sold-out crowd and a defense that suffocated one of college basketball’s blue bloods. Now, with barely enough time to catch their breath, the Cyclones are gearing up for an even bigger showdown.
Next up: No. 2 Houston.
Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. Monday on ESPN, and if you thought the Kansas game brought the energy, head coach T.J.
Otzelberger has a simple message for Cyclone Nation: *“Let’s run it back with some Hilton magic.” *
At 22-3 overall and 9-3 in the Big 12, Iowa State is right in the thick of the conference race, sitting two games behind the Cougars (23-2, 11-1) in a three-way tie for third. Monday’s matchup is more than just another ranked clash - it’s a chance to tighten the title race, extend Otzelberger’s program record for top-10 wins to 15, and further cement the Cyclones’ case for a high NCAA Tournament seed.
Forward Milan Momcilovic, who led the team with 18 points in the win over Kansas, knows exactly what’s at stake. “It’s a big opportunity,” he said.
“Obviously a really quick turnaround. Just gotta be ready for them because they’re obviously very physical, athletic - and they’re Houston.”
Momcilovic isn’t wrong. The Cougars have built a reputation as one of the most relentless teams in the country.
They’ve captured back-to-back Big 12 titles and enter Monday as the top team in the league. But while Houston has been dominant, they’ve only made one trip to Hilton Coliseum since joining the conference.
That visit, back in January 2024, ended in a 57-53 loss - a gritty, grind-it-out battle that felt more like a playoff game than a regular season tilt.
Expect more of the same this time around.
Both teams are elite defensively - Iowa State ranks fifth nationally in defensive efficiency, Houston sits right behind at sixth, per KenPom. They’re both comfortable playing deep into the shot clock, both thrive on forcing live-ball turnovers, and both have rosters built to win ugly if that’s what it takes.
“We know how good they are and the problems that they pose,” Otzelberger said. “But we’ve got a lot of confidence in our group.”
That confidence is well earned. The Cyclones have been ranked in the AP Top 25 for 46 straight weeks, second only to Houston’s jaw-dropping streak of 119 consecutive appearances.
And they’ve got the kind of core that can go toe-to-toe with anyone: Momcilovic, the nation’s most efficient 3-point shooter; Tamin Lipsey, the engine at point guard; and Joshua Jefferson, a versatile two-way presence. Add in freshman spark plug Jamarion Batemon, who came off the bench to score 11 points and knock down three triples against Kansas, and it’s clear this team has both depth and momentum.
And then there’s the not-so-secret weapon: Hilton Coliseum.
With another sold-out crowd of 14,267 expected, the Cyclones will once again have one of the loudest home-court advantages in the country behind them. The energy on Saturday was electric - and it wasn’t lost on the players.
“(That) was an amazing experience,” said Batemon. “The fans came out.
We expected them to come. They brought the energy.”
Now it’s time to do it again. Houston brings a loaded lineup featuring Emmanuel Sharp, Kingston Flemings, and Chris Cenac Jr., but Iowa State isn’t backing down from the challenge.
Not with the way they’re playing. Not with Hilton rocking.
“We don’t really get too high or too low,” Momcilovic said. That’s the mindset of a team that’s locked in - and ready for another marquee moment.
As Otzelberger put it: “We’ve got a lot of confidence in our fan base.” And with good reason. Monday night has all the makings of another classic in Ames.