Milan Momcilovic Stays Hot as No. 9 Iowa State Rolls Past Oklahoma State
In a game that started early due to a winter storm but heated up quickly on the court, No. 9 Iowa State came out firing and never looked back-at least not until the second half. Behind a red-hot Milan Momcilovic, the Cyclones put together a dominant first half and held off a late push from Oklahoma State to secure an 84-71 win in Stillwater.
Momcilovic was the story once again. The 6-foot-8 junior guard has been on an absolute tear lately, and Saturday was no exception.
He poured in 29 points on an efficient 8-for-12 from the field, including 5-of-9 from beyond the arc. He was perfect at the line, hitting all eight of his free throws.
That brings his scoring average to 27.7 points over his last three games-a stretch that’s turning into must-watch basketball for Cyclones fans.
Joshua Jefferson added 20 points to the effort, helping Iowa State improve to 18-2 overall and 5-2 in Big 12 play. The Cyclones came out with serious intent, racing to an 11-2 lead before Oklahoma State had time to settle in.
Then came the knockout punch: a four-point play from Momcilovic that pushed the lead to 23-4 just seven minutes into the game. At that point, it was clear Iowa State wasn’t messing around.
Oklahoma State, meanwhile, couldn’t buy a bucket early. The Cowboys missed nine of their first 10 shots and opened the game 0-for-6 from deep. By halftime, Iowa State had built a 51-21 lead, thanks in part to nine made threes and a defense that made life miserable for the Cowboys.
But credit Oklahoma State for not folding. Despite being down 30 at the break, the Cowboys came out in the second half with a renewed energy.
Kanye Clary and Jaylen Curry each finished with 19 points, and the team outscored Iowa State 50-33 in the final 20 minutes. A late 3-pointer by Clary cut the deficit to 10 with under two minutes to play, giving the home crowd a reason to rise to its feet.
And that crowd deserves a shoutout. Despite the frigid conditions and a tough first half, fans at Gallagher-Iba Arena stuck around and brought the energy down the stretch. The game was also marked by a moment of reflection, as Oklahoma State held a pregame moment of silence and a halftime ceremony to honor the 10 members of the school’s athletic program who tragically died in a plane crash on January 27, 2001.
In the end, Iowa State’s blistering start was too much for the Cowboys to overcome. The Cyclones continue to look like a legitimate Big 12 contender, especially with Momcilovic playing at this level. If he keeps this up, Iowa State’s ceiling might be even higher than we thought.