Iowa State Cyclones Defeat Utah Utes in High-Scoring Affair

Cyclones' offensive firepower proves too much for struggling Utes defense

Feb. 24, 2026 at 9:03pm

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The Iowa State Cyclones, led by standout performances from Tamin Lipsey, Joshua Jefferson, and Milan Momcilovic, defeated the Utah Utes 80-67 in a high-scoring college basketball matchup. The Cyclones' efficient offense, averaging over 1.18 points per possession, proved too much for the Utes' porous defense, which has been allowing nearly 78.5 points per game this season.

Why it matters

This win keeps Iowa State's hopes of a top seed in the NCAA Tournament alive, as they continue to build an impressive resume. For Utah, the loss extends their struggles in conference play, as they now sit at just 2-12 in the Pac-12. The game highlighted the stark contrast between Iowa State's potent offense and Utah's defensive woes, which could be a concern for the Utes as they look to turn their season around.

The details

Iowa State's offense was firing on all cylinders, with Lipsey orchestrating the attack and Jefferson and Momcilovic providing scoring punch. The Cyclones' ball movement and ability to get open looks from three-point range proved too much for Utah to handle. On the other end, the Utes struggled to slow down Iowa State's transition game, which led to several easy baskets and trips to the free-throw line for the visitors.

  • The game was played on Tuesday, February 24, 2026.
  • Iowa State entered the game with a 23-4 record (10-4 in Big 12 play).
  • Utah came into the matchup with a 10-17 record (2-12 in Pac-12 play).

The players

Tamin Lipsey

A standout point guard for the Iowa State Cyclones, Lipsey is considered one of the best floor generals in the nation, averaging 13.3 points, 5.2 assists, and 2.2 steals per game.

Joshua Jefferson

A versatile forward for the Iowa State Cyclones, Jefferson is a key connector for the team's offense, averaging 16.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game.

Milan Momcilovic

A sharpshooter for the Iowa State Cyclones, Momcilovic is a dynamic scorer who can stretch the defense, averaging 17.5 points per game while shooting 50.8% from three-point range.

Terrence Brown

A scoring guard for the Utah Utes, Brown is the team's leading scorer, averaging 20.2 points per game and recording 20+ points in 16 games this season.

Don McHenry

A skilled shooting guard for the Utah Utes, McHenry is a key contributor on the offensive end, averaging 17.4 points per game.

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What they’re saying

“We knew we had to come out and set the tone early against a tough Utah team. Our guys did a great job of moving the ball and finding the open man, which led to some good looks and easy baskets.”

— T.J. Otzelberger, Head Coach, Iowa State Cyclones

“We just couldn't find a way to slow them down tonight. Iowa State's offense was clicking on all cylinders, and we struggled to get stops when we needed them. It's a tough loss, but we'll go back to the drawing board and try to bounce back in our next game.”

— Craig Smith, Head Coach, Utah Utes

What’s next

Iowa State will look to continue their strong play as they return home to face the Kansas Jayhawks on Saturday, February 28th. Utah, meanwhile, will try to regroup and pick up a much-needed conference win when they host the Oregon Ducks on Thursday, February 27th.

The takeaway

This game highlighted the stark contrast between Iowa State's high-powered offense and Utah's porous defense, which has been a recurring issue for the Utes this season. While Iowa State's victory keeps their NCAA Tournament hopes alive, Utah's struggles in conference play continue to be a concern as they look to turn their season around.