No. 7 Iowa State Holds Off Baylor in Tight Big 12 Matchup

Milan Momcilovic's 21 points lead the Cyclones to a 72-69 victory over the Bears.

Published on Feb. 7, 2026

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In a closely contested Big 12 Conference game, No. 7 Iowa State defeated Baylor 72-69 behind a 21-point performance from Milan Momcilovic. Joshua Jefferson scored 15 points and Tamin Lipsey added 14 points and 9 rebounds for the Cyclones, who won their fifth straight game. Cameron Carr led Baylor with 24 points, including 5 made 3-pointers, while Tounde Yessoufou and Obi Agbim also scored in double figures for the Bears.

Why it matters

This victory keeps Iowa State in the hunt for the Big 12 title, as they improve to 21-2 overall and 8-2 in conference play. Baylor, on the other hand, drops to 13-10 and 3-8 in the Big 12, making it increasingly difficult for the Bears to earn an NCAA Tournament bid.

The details

Iowa State used a pair of second-half runs to pull away from Baylor, including a 7-0 spurt capped by a Momcilovic 3-pointer that gave the Cyclones a 57-49 lead. The Cyclones' defense then tightened up, allowing them to stretch the lead to as many as 15 points late in the game. Baylor made a late 11-0 run to cut the deficit to 3, but Iowa State was able to inbound the ball cleanly in the final seconds to secure the victory.

  • The game was played on Saturday, February 8, 2026 in Ames, Iowa.

The players

Milan Momcilovic

A key player for No. 7 Iowa State, scoring a team-high 21 points in the victory over Baylor.

Joshua Jefferson

Scored 15 points for the Cyclones in the win.

Tamin Lipsey

Contributed 14 points and 9 rebounds for Iowa State.

Cameron Carr

Led Baylor with 24 points, including 5 made 3-pointers.

Tounde Yessoufou

Scored 17 points and had 5 steals for the Bears in the loss.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

The takeaway

This game showcased the competitiveness of the Big 12 Conference, as two ranked teams battled down to the wire. Iowa State's ability to withstand Baylor's late comeback attempt demonstrated the Cyclones' resilience and their status as a contender for the conference title.