Houston Coach Sampson Praises Iowa State After Narrow Loss

Veteran Cougars coach shows class in postgame remarks despite narrow defeat in Ames

Published on Feb. 18, 2026

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Houston basketball coach Kelvin Sampson delivered a gracious and composed response after his team's narrow 70-67 road loss to Iowa State, praising the Cyclones program, head coach T.J. Otzelberger, and the Hilton Coliseum atmosphere despite the defeat that drops the Cougars to 23-3 on the season.

Why it matters

Sampson's measured reaction in the face of a tough loss on the road against a top-ranked opponent reflects the culture of class and sportsmanship he has built at Houston, which remains firmly in the national championship conversation despite the defeat.

The details

Houston watched a late lead slip away inside Hilton Coliseum as Iowa State closed the game on a 17-4 run, with Nate Heise hitting the go-ahead three-pointer with 1:10 remaining. A costly turnover in the final seconds sealed the outcome for the Cyclones.

  • The game took place on Monday, February 17, 2026.

The players

Kelvin Sampson

The head coach of the Houston basketball team, known for building a respected program with a culture of class and sportsmanship.

T.J. Otzelberger

The head coach of the Iowa State basketball team, who led the Cyclones to victory over Sampson's Houston squad.

Nate Heise

The Iowa State player who hit the go-ahead three-pointer in the final minutes to help the Cyclones secure the win.

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What they’re saying

“We have a ton of respect for T.J. Otzelberger, his program and this fanbase. I don't know what it looked like on TV, but any time you get Hilton Coliseum on TV that is good for the Big 12.”

— Kelvin Sampson, Head Coach, Houston Basketball (Twitter)

What’s next

Houston will look to bounce back from the narrow defeat as they continue their quest for a national championship, while Iowa State will aim to build on the momentum of the home win over a top-ranked opponent.

The takeaway

Kelvin Sampson's measured and gracious response in the face of a tough loss exemplifies the culture of class and sportsmanship he has cultivated at Houston, which remains a national title contender despite the defeat.