Iowa State Blows Past Kansas State in Statement Win, Heise Leads with Grit
MANHATTAN, Kan. - When the Cyclones filed into Bramlage Coliseum just past noon on Sunday, Nate Heise stood out. No headphones.
No distractions. Just focus.
And it showed.
Heise dropped 11 points as Iowa State steamrolled rival Kansas State, 95-61, in what might be the Cyclones' most emphatic win of the season so far. And that’s saying something, considering the tear they’ve been on lately.
This was Iowa State’s fourth straight win by double digits - and not just any double digits. We're talking blowouts: 30-point wins at home over UCF and Colorado, a solid road win over Oklahoma State, and now this - a 34-point dismantling of K-State on their home floor.
To put it in perspective: this is the second-largest margin of victory Iowa State has ever had over Kansas State, and the biggest ever in Manhattan. For the Wildcats, it’s the second-worst loss they’ve ever suffered in Bramlage Coliseum and their third-worst home loss in program history. That’s not just a loss - that’s a beatdown.
And while the Cyclones’ offense was humming and the defense locked in, Heise’s presence was the glue. He didn’t need to fill the stat sheet to make his impact felt. He played like a senior who knows what February basketball is all about - gritty, composed, and relentless.
“He’s just a winner and a competitor,” teammate Milan Momcilovic said postgame. That tracks. Heise’s energy set the tone early, and Iowa State never looked back.
Head coach T.J. Otzelberger wasn’t caught up in the scoreboard, though.
His focus? The process.
“I know that [when] you get to this point in the season and it’s important that your team continues to get better,” Otzelberger said. “As much as I’m proud of our guys for how we play, what’s more important is how they continue to practice, how they continue to invest in one another.”
That’s the message coming out of Ames right now: improvement, connection, and consistency. And it’s paying off. The Cyclones aren’t just winning - they’re dominating, especially on the defensive end, where they’ve built their identity.
Sunday’s win was more than just another W in the Big 12 standings. It was a message.
Iowa State is not just in the mix - they’re surging, and they’re doing it with a mix of veteran leadership, defensive grit, and a team-first mentality that travels well. Just ask Kansas State.
With Heise leading by example and the Cyclones rounding into form, this group is starting to look like a serious contender as the season heats up.