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Iowa State Cyclones ahead Joshua Jefferson (5) drives to the basket between Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Anthony Roy (9) and Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Kanye Clary (1) in the course of the first half within the Large-12 males’s basketball on Jan. 10, 2026, at Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa. No. 3 Iowa State has discovered tips on how to dominate the second half. Now the undefeated Cyclones have to only determine tips on how to begin higher.
Iowa State (16-0, 3-0 Large 12) will get an opportunity to try this Tuesday after they journey to Lawrence, Kan., to tackle the No. 22 Jayhawks (11-5, 1-2) in convention motion.
Iowa State trailed for a lot of the first half earlier than coming again to beat Oklahoma State at dwelling 83-71 on Saturday.
“We have been lucky in a handful of video games that at halftime — possibly we’re down or simply not at our greatest — and discover a method to come out of the locker room and get off to a fast begin,” Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger stated.
The Cyclones are off to the most effective begin at school historical past. Otzelberger stated his crew is getting used to getting the opposite crew’s finest effort each sport.
“We’ve plenty of nice gamers in our league and our league is the most effective league within the nation,” he stated. “So naturally, all of them wish to be at their finest, and I feel we’re seeing that. Plus, I feel it’s a psychological factor after they see that quantity.”
The Cyclones are one in every of 5 unbeaten NCAA Division I groups left within the nation.
A bounce-back sport from ahead Milan Momcilovic helped preserve the Cyclones that method Saturday.
The junior ahead did not make a 3-pointer for the primary time this season final week towards Baylor. His three makes an attempt matched a season low.
He got here out impressed Saturday to guarantee that did not occur once more.
He hit six of his 10 pictures from the sphere and was 3 of 5 from the 3-point line. One in all his misses was an extended heave because the clock expired at halftime. Momcilovic scored 16 of his 18 factors within the first half.
Joshua Jefferson led the Cyclones with 19 factors. The senior ahead leads the Cyclones with 17.7 factors per sport, adopted by Momcilovic at 17.6.
The Jayhawks are coming off an 86-75 loss on the highway to West Virginia.
Kansas led by eight with 14 minutes left earlier than the Mountaineers went on a 16-0 run to place the sport away.
“We have been very poor,” Kansas coach Invoice Self stated. “They backed us down, our guards down, on the put up, and we did not give a lot resistance in any respect. They took benefit of that, after which we did not clearly rating on the opposite finish. They have been more durable, we by no means stopped them the entire evening — they nonetheless bought 39 the primary half. We by no means stopped them and by no means made them play poorly.”
The Jayhawks are led by Darryn Peterson, who’s projected as a excessive decide within the NBA draft.
The freshman is averaging 22.6 factors per sport and 4.7 rebounds in seven video games as he has battled by means of leg accidents. He had 23 factors and 6 rebounds within the loss to the Mountaineers.
Tre White averages 15.2 factors and 7 rebounds per sport. He had 18 factors towards West Virginia.
White stopped the Mountaineers’ run with eight minutes to go, however by then the Jayhawks had not scored in seven minutes.
“When you include that quantity of power going and stuff like that, pictures begin falling, rebounds begin getting missed,” White stated of the collapse. ” It was type of the defensive finish that type of made it an uphill battle.”
Sophomore guard Elmarko Jackson is aware of the Jayhawks must get it collectively quickly.
“We have got a very good crew in Iowa State arising,” Jackson stated. “Obtained to only concentrate on that, get again to taking part in how we play basketball and simply being more durable.”
–Discipline Stage Media
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