No. 5 Iowa State Halts No. 9 Kansas' Win Streak

Milan Momcilovic scores 18 points as Cyclones' defense stifles Jayhawks

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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Milan Momcilovic scored 18 points and No. 5 Iowa State's stifling defense limited No. 9 Kansas to 37.2% shooting in a 74-56 Big 12 victory on Saturday in Ames, Iowa. The win snapped the Jayhawks' eight-game winning streak and moved the Cyclones into a third-place tie with Kansas in the conference standings.

Why it matters

This matchup between two top-10 Big 12 teams had major implications for the conference standings and NCAA Tournament seeding. Iowa State's dominant defensive performance against a high-powered Kansas offense was a statement win that solidifies the Cyclones as a legitimate national title contender.

The details

Iowa State held Kansas to just 13 points in the first 12 minutes of the game, building a double-digit lead it would not relinquish. The Cyclones forced 13 Jayhawks turnovers and limited prized freshman Darryn Peterson to a season-low 10 points. Iowa State also caught fire from 3-point range, making 11-of-30 attempts.

  • The game was played on Saturday, February 15, 2026 in Ames, Iowa.
  • Iowa State led 37-27 at halftime after closing the first half on a 21-7 run.

The players

Milan Momcilovic

A junior forward for Iowa State who scored a team-high 18 points and hit four 3-pointers.

Melvin Council Jr.

A senior guard for Kansas who led the Jayhawks with 15 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists.

Flory Bidunga

A sophomore center for Kansas who recorded a double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds.

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What they’re saying

“We knew we had to bring our A-game defensively against a team as talented as Kansas. The guys really bought in and executed the game plan to perfection.”

— T.J. Otzelberger, Iowa State Head Coach (Des Moines Register)

What’s next

Iowa State will look to build on this signature win when it hosts No. 15 Baylor on Wednesday, February 19. Kansas will try to bounce back when it travels to take on No. 11 Texas Tech on Tuesday, February 18.

The takeaway

This game showcased Iowa State's status as an elite defensive team in the Big 12 and a legitimate national title contender. The Cyclones' ability to stifle a high-powered offense like Kansas' proves they have the tools to make a deep NCAA Tournament run.