No. 5 Iowa State Stifles No. 9 Kansas, 74-56, Ending Jayhawks' Eight-Game Win Streak
AMES, Iowa (Saturday, ET) — Milan Momcilovic poured in 18 points and Iowa State used a scorching start to the second half and suffocating defense to beat No. 9 Kansas 74-56, snapping the Jayhawks' eight-game winning streak and keeping the Cyclones unbeaten at home.
Hot second half and timely threes blow game open
The Cyclones trailed early after making just one of their first 10 field-goal attempts, but their defense kept the deficit manageable. Once the offense found its footing, Iowa State closed the first half on a dominant 20-2 surge and carried that momentum into the second half.
Iowa State opened the second half on a 20-7 run in the first 5½ minutes, hitting six straight 3-pointers in the stretch. Momcilovic, who was 4-of-5 from deep after halftime, scored 14 of his 18 points after intermission. Tamin Lipsey, Joshua Jefferson, Blake Buchanan and Jamarion Batemon also sparked the offensive outburst, each finishing with 11 points.
The Cyclones' long-range barrage included a dramatic fadeaway corner triple by Momcilovic as the shot clock expired, one of several momentum-extending buckets that pushed the lead into the 20s. Iowa State led 37-27 at the break and extended that advantage to as many as 24 points in the second half.
Defense and ball protection define the day
While the Cyclones heated up offensively after halftime, it was their defense that set the tone. Iowa State held Kansas to 31. 6% shooting in the second half and limited the Jayhawks to just 1-of-8 from beyond the arc after intermission. Kansas finished 37. 3% for the game and committed 13 turnovers, 10 of those coming in the first half as Iowa State applied pressure and took advantage of miscues.
The Cyclones committed just six turnovers themselves, turning defense into easy offense throughout the afternoon in Hilton Coliseum. Blake Buchanan contributed efficiently inside, going 5-of-6 from the field and pulling down six rebounds, and the balanced attack kept Kansas from mounting a sustained comeback despite a late flurry.
Key performances and what it means
Momcilovic led the way with his second-half tear, while Lipsey, Jefferson, Buchanan and Batemon provided balanced scoring that made Iowa State difficult to defend. Melvin Council Jr. paced Kansas with 15 points and Flory Bidunga added 11. Freshman Darryn Peterson, making his first start after missing the last game, played 24 minutes and scored 10 points.
The victory improves Iowa State's record and underscores its home strength; the Cyclones remain unbeaten at home this season. Head coach T. J. Otzelberger (tj otzelberger) praised the team's cohesion, pointing to timely shooting and a defensive emphasis that disrupted Kansas' rhythm.
Kansas' eight-game winning streak had included signature wins and a program-wide confidence, but Iowa State's combination of lockdown defense, efficient ball security and second-half shooting proved decisive. The win also kicks off a challenging stretch for the Cyclones, who will face several ranked opponents in the coming games.
Saturday's top-10 matchup marked the seventh such meeting in the series, with the teams having split the previous six. Today, Iowa State controlled enough of the game—especially after halftime—to secure a comfortable margin and send the home crowd into celebration.
