No. 5 Iowa State cruises past No. 9 Kansas, 74-56

The Cyclones' stifling defense holds the Jayhawks to just 56 points in the Big 12 matchup.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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The No. 5 Iowa State Cyclones dominated the No. 9 Kansas Jayhawks, winning 74-56 at home on Saturday. Iowa State's defense was the key, holding Kansas to just 37.3% shooting from the field and zero points over the final 4:22 of the game. The Cyclones led by as many as 24 points in the second half before Kansas cut the deficit to 12, but Iowa State closed the game on a 6-0 run.

Why it matters

This win solidifies Iowa State's position as one of the top teams in the Big 12 conference and the nation. The Cyclones' stifling defense has been a hallmark of their success this season, and this victory over a highly ranked Kansas squad will only boost their NCAA Tournament resume.

The details

Despite a slow start shooting the ball, Iowa State used a 9-0 run in the first half to take the lead and never looked back. The Cyclones built a 10-point halftime lead and then opened the second half with three straight 3-pointers to extend their advantage. Kansas made a late push to cut the deficit to 12, but Iowa State closed the game strongly to secure the 18-point win.

  • The game was played on Saturday, February 14, 2026.
  • Iowa State led by as much as 24 points, 62-38, with 12:04 remaining in the game.
  • Kansas cut the deficit to 12 points, 68-56, with 4:22 left, but Iowa State finished the game on a 6-0 run.

The players

Milan Momcilovic

The Iowa State forward led all scorers with 18 points, including 4-of-5 shooting from 3-point range in the second half.

Tamin Lipsey

The Cyclones' point guard finished with 11 points and 4 assists.

Melvin Council Jr.

The Kansas guard scored a game-high 15 points in the losing effort.

Flory Bidunga

The Jayhawks' center pulled down 13 rebounds in the game.

Blake Buchanan

The Iowa State forward led the Cyclones with 6 rebounds.

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What they’re saying

“Our defense was the key tonight. We were able to get stops and turn them into points on the other end.”

— T.J. Otzelberger, Iowa State Head Coach (widerightnattylite.com)

What’s next

On Monday, Iowa State will host No. 3 Houston in a Big 12 showdown at 8 p.m.

The takeaway

This dominant win over a top-10 opponent shows that Iowa State is a legitimate national title contender, with their stifling defense and balanced scoring attack making them a tough matchup for any team in the country.