No. 5 Iowa State Looks to Finish Strong Against TCU

Cyclones seek to close out game after nearly blowing big lead against Baylor

Feb. 9, 2026 at 9:39pm

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No. 5 Iowa State will travel to Fort Worth, Texas to take on TCU in a Big 12 Conference matchup. The Cyclones are coming off a close 72-69 win over Baylor, where they nearly blew a sizable second-half lead. TCU is looking to pick up a marquee win over a top-ranked opponent to boost their NCAA Tournament resume, as they currently sit at No. 53 in the NET rankings with a 3-6 record in Quad 1 games.

Why it matters

This game is crucial for both teams as they jockey for position in the Big 12 standings and make their case for the NCAA Tournament. Iowa State is looking to solidify their status as an elite team, while TCU is fighting to prove they belong in the conversation as an at-large bid.

The details

Iowa State guard Tamin Lipsey had another well-rounded performance against Baylor, scoring 14 points, grabbing 9 rebounds, dishing out 3 assists, and recording 2 steals. Head coach T.J. Otzelberger praised Lipsey's relentless effort and physicality, saying he plays with the intensity of two players. TCU is led by junior forward Xavier Edmonds, who is coming off a career-high 26 points and 10 rebounds in the Horned Frogs' comeback win over Kansas State.

  • Iowa State (21-1, 8-2) defeated Baylor 72-69 on Saturday.
  • TCU (14-9, 4-6) picked up an 84-82 home win over Kansas State on Saturday.

The players

Tamin Lipsey

Iowa State guard who had 14 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals in the win over Baylor.

Xavier Edmonds

TCU junior forward who scored a career-high 26 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the win over Kansas State.

T.J. Otzelberger

Iowa State head coach who praised Lipsey's relentless effort and physicality.

Jamie Dixon

TCU head coach who said the Horned Frogs need to make the most of their chance to pick off a top-ranked opponent like Iowa State.

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What they’re saying

“Tamin just lays it on the line. It felt like there were two of him out there on some possessions against Baylor. The plays that he is making, the steals that he is getting, the rebounds he is chasing down ... there's a physicality about how he does everything. He lays it all on the line and he's done that for the program for four years. His 33 minutes (against Baylor) might be like 50 minutes for someone else because of how hard he plays.”

— T.J. Otzelberger, Iowa State Head Coach

“We have to get ready for Iowa State. We know we are on the bubble. A loss against Kansas State would have killed us. We are still there. We have to do some things to get better, play better and I know we can.”

— Jamie Dixon, TCU Head Coach

What’s next

The winner of this game will take a big step towards securing an NCAA Tournament bid, while the loser will have work to do to improve their resume.

The takeaway

This matchup between No. 5 Iowa State and TCU is a crucial one for both teams as they look to bolster their NCAA Tournament resumes. The Cyclones are seeking to close out games more effectively after nearly blowing a big lead against Baylor, while the Horned Frogs are desperate for a marquee win to boost their standing on the bubble.