No. 8 Iowa State Cruises Past Colorado in Big Win

Cyclones race out to big early lead and coast to 97-67 victory

Jan. 29, 2026 at 9:07pm

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The 8th-ranked Iowa State Cyclones dominated Colorado from the opening tip, racing out to a big early lead and cruising to a 97-67 victory in Ames, Iowa on Thursday night. Jamarion Bateman led the Cyclones with 17 points, while Milan Momcilovic added 16 points and hit three 3-pointers. Iowa State led by as many as 30 points in the second half as they won their third straight game after dropping two earlier in the conference season.

Why it matters

This was an important bounce-back win for Iowa State, who entered the game ranked 8th in the country. The Cyclones were looking to rebound after losing two of their previous four games, including a road defeat at Kansas. The lopsided victory over Colorado helps solidify Iowa State's standing in the Big 12 conference standings and their position as one of the top teams in the nation.

The details

Iowa State raced out to a 21-0 run early in the first half to take control of the game. The Cyclones led 52-29 at halftime and were never seriously threatened in the second half, leading by as many as 30 points. Freshman Isaiah Johnson led Colorado with 24 points, but the Buffaloes struggled mightily, going over 8 minutes without a made field goal in the first half.

  • The game was played on Thursday, January 29, 2026 in Ames, Iowa.

The players

Jamarion Bateman

A key player for Iowa State, scoring 17 points in the win.

Milan Momcilovic

Scored 16 points and hit three 3-pointers for the Cyclones.

Isaiah Johnson

The leading scorer for Colorado with 24 points in the loss.

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What they’re saying

“We came out with a lot of energy and really set the tone early. That was the key to getting this big win tonight.”

— Jamarion Bateman, Iowa State Player

What’s next

Iowa State will look to build on this dominant performance when they host another Big 12 opponent, Oklahoma State, on Saturday. Colorado will try to end their six-game losing streak when they return home to face Texas Tech next week.

The takeaway

This was a statement win for the 8th-ranked Iowa State Cyclones, who showed their ability to quickly take control of a game and cruise to a lopsided victory over a conference opponent. The Cyclones' balanced scoring attack and stifling defense were too much for Colorado to handle, demonstrating why Iowa State is considered one of the top teams in the country this season.