Nate Heise Fuels No. 6 Iowa State's Comeback in 70-67 Win Over Houston

AMES, Iowa — Nate Heise drilled a key go-ahead 3-pointer and Tamin Lipsey corralled a pivotal offensive rebound in the final seconds as No. 6 Iowa State rallied to beat Big 12 leader and No. 2 Houston 70-67 on Monday night (ET). The Cyclones closed on a 17-4 run to stun the Cougars and end Houston's six-game winning streak.

Heise's late shot and a family story that stole headlines

Heise, who was a perfect 3-for-3 from beyond the arc, buried the trey from the left corner with 1: 17 remaining to give Iowa State a 69-67 lead. The sophomore guard said he relied on routine and muscle memory in the moment, noting there was little time to orchestrate anything but a shot.

His big night on the court came hours after his sister, Taylor Heise, scored in a U. S. women's hockey victory that sent her to the gold-medal game at the Milan Cortina Olympics. The family milestone added an extra layer to an already memorable evening for Heise, who soaked in the moment after helping deliver a signature win for the Cyclones.

"Of all the games from him as a Cyclone, tonight stands out as the one that was most elite, " coach T. J. Otzelberger said of Heise. "The confidence he's playing with is awesome. " Heise finished with 11 points, while Joshua Jefferson led Iowa State with 12 and Blake Buchanan added 10.

Final sequence, rebounding and the clinching free throw

After Heise's trey, Houston had two late opportunities to retake the lead. A shot-clock violation with 43 seconds left halted one chance, and Chris Cenac Jr. missed a contested attempt with four seconds remaining. Buchanan secured the rebound but missed the front end of a one-and-one; Lipsey fought to keep the possession alive with a crucial offensive rebound and tapped the ball back to Jefferson, who was fouled with one second on the clock.

Jefferson calmly sank the first free throw to make it a three-point game, and the second attempt was unnecessary as time expired. The sequence underscored Iowa State's determination on the glass and its ability to execute under pressure in the game's final possessions.

Big 12 implications and performances across the court

The victory marked the Cyclones' second top-10 scalp in three days after a dominant win over a top-10 rival on Saturday, and it tightened the Big 12 race. Iowa State improved to 23-3 overall and 10-3 in conference play, moving to within a game of the conference lead. Houston slipped to 23-3 and 11-2, its cushion atop the standings narrowed as the Cougars prepare for a weekend matchup against a top-four opponent.

Houston received a team-high 22 points from Kingston Flemings, while Emanuel Sharp supplied 16 — all in the first half — and Milos Uzan added 11. The Cougars' effort fell short in the closing minutes, leaving coach Kelvin Sampson reflective but not conceding the performance.

"Iowa State's good. It's not an easy place to come in and win. I'm disappointed we didn't win. I'm not disappointed in our effort, " he said after the game.

The Cyclones' late surge combined timely 3-point shooting, physical rebounding and free-throw composure to secure a statement victory that could prove pivotal in the race for Big 12 supremacy. With momentum on their side and a confident young guard leading the way, Iowa State heads into the remainder of conference play with renewed belief.