No. 3 Houston Cougars visit No. 5 Iowa State Cyclones in Big 12 showdown

Cougars look to extend lead in Big 12 standings against tough Cyclones squad

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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The No. 3 Houston Cougars, who hold a two-game lead in the Big 12 standings, will visit the No. 5 Iowa State Cyclones in a highly anticipated "Big Monday" matchup. The Cougars have won 19 of their past 20 road games, with the only loss coming against then-No. 12 Texas Tech. Houston guard Emanuel Sharp has been on a tear, averaging 25 points and 11 3-pointers in the past two games. The Cyclones, who are 14-0 at home this season, are led by standout players Joshua Jefferson and Milan Momcilovic.

Why it matters

This game is a crucial Big 12 showdown between two top-5 teams with national championship aspirations. A win for Houston would further solidify their position atop the conference standings, while a victory for Iowa State would tighten the race. The outcome could have major implications for seeding in the NCAA Tournament.

The details

Houston is coming off a 78-64 win over Kansas State, its sixth straight victory. The Cougars have won 17 of their past 18 games overall. Iowa State is looking to bounce back from a road loss against TCU, but the Cyclones have been dominant at home, going 14-0 this season. Both teams feature star players, with Houston's Emanuel Sharp and Iowa State's Joshua Jefferson and Milan Momcilovic leading the way for their respective squads.

  • The game will tip off at 8 p.m. Central Time on Monday, February 17, 2026.
  • Houston has won 19 of its past 20 road games, with the only loss coming on January 24, 2026 against then-No. 12 Texas Tech.

The players

Emanuel Sharp

A Houston guard who has been on a scoring tear, averaging 25 points and 11 3-pointers in the past two games. He needs just 5 points to move into 11th place on Houston's all-time scoring list.

Joshua Jefferson

An Iowa State standout averaging 16.7 points, 7.6 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.5 steals per game. Only six Division I players have averaged those numbers in a season since 1974-75.

Milan Momcilovic

The Iowa State forward has scored in double figures in all but two games this season and has 11 games with at least 20 points, including a career-high 34 against Cincinnati.

Kelvin Sampson

The veteran Houston head coach, who is in his 12th season with the Cougars and has a career record of 822-356 in 37 seasons overall.

T.J. Otzelberger

The Iowa State head coach, who is in his fifth season with the Cyclones and has a career record of 316-111 in 10 seasons overall.

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What’s next

The winner of this game will take a big step towards securing a high seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

This matchup between two top-5 teams in the Big 12 will be a must-watch game for college basketball fans. Both Houston and Iowa State have proven themselves as national title contenders this season, and the outcome of this game could have major implications for the rest of the conference race and the NCAA Tournament landscape.