Iowa State Bench Shines in Rout of Colorado

Cyclones' reserves score 40 points in dominant win over Buffaloes

Jan. 30, 2026 at 5:47am

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Iowa State basketball coach TJ Otzelberger praised his team's bench play after the Cyclones routed Colorado 92-72 on January 29th. Iowa State's reserves scored 40 points in the victory, forcing Colorado coach Tad Boyle to burn three early timeouts to try and slow down the Cyclones' second unit.

Why it matters

Iowa State's ability to get significant production from its bench is an encouraging sign for the team's depth and ability to wear down opponents over the course of a game. Strong bench play is often a key factor in a team's success, especially later in the season.

The details

Iowa State's bench outscored Colorado's reserves 40-12 in the game. The Cyclones' second unit was led by several key contributors, including Gabe Kalscheur who had 12 points off the bench. Iowa State's depth and balanced scoring attack proved too much for the Buffaloes to handle.

  • The game was played on January 29, 2026.

The players

TJ Otzelberger

The head coach of the Iowa State Cyclones men's basketball team.

Tad Boyle

The head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes men's basketball team.

Gabe Kalscheur

An Iowa State basketball player who scored 12 points off the bench in the win over Colorado.

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What they’re saying

“It feels very good to know that not only the five players that start a game are pretty good, but the guys that come to the court from the bench also have an instant impact.”

— TJ Otzelberger, Head Coach, Iowa State Cyclones

The takeaway

Iowa State's impressive bench performance in the win over Colorado demonstrates the team's depth and ability to wear down opponents, which could be a key factor in their success as the season progresses.