Big Monday: Iowa State basketball vs. Houston preview and live updates

Iowa State basketball (22-3, 9-3 Big 12) plays host to No. 2 Houston (23-2, 11-1 Big 12) on Monday night at Hilton Coliseum in Ames. ESPN televises the marquee Big Monday matchup, scheduled to start at 8 p.m. CT (updated tip-off about 8:07 p.m. CT because the Duke game ran long). Fans can stream on Fubo with a free trial. Refresh this page often for live updates from the Iowa State vs. Houston game.

T.J. Otzelberger’s Cyclones are coming off a dominant 74-56 win over Kansas in Ames and sit tied for third in the Big 12 with Kansas. Kelvin Sampson’s Cougars beat Kansas State 78-64 at home and sit one game ahead of Arizona in the league standings.

Early game flow and momentum swings

Iowa State opened hot, ripping off an 11-0 run to lead 13-5 with 16:22 left in the first half. The Cyclones started 4-for-4 and sank their first three 3s via Joshua Jefferson, Milan Momcilovic and Killyan Toure. That early burst energized the Hilton crowd and put pressure on Houston from the outset.

Houston answered with a 13-2 run to grab a 26-21 lead with 7:50 left in the half. Emanuel Sharp was in rhythm for the Cougars, hitting 3-of-6 from deep and sitting at 11 points by that stretch. The Cougars were 6-of-12 from three at one point, while Iowa State relied on a ferocious home crowd and bench contributions to stay in striking distance.

At the under-4 media timeout in the first half (3:50 left), Iowa State led 33-30. Nate Heise led the Cyclones with eight points and was a perfect 2-for-2 from long range. Notably, Iowa State’s reserves outscored Houston’s bench by a 12-2 margin in that segment.

Key players and lineups to watch in Houston vs Iowa State

Starting lineups listed for the matchup:

• Houston: Kingston Flemings, Milos Uzan, Emanuel Sharp, Joseph Tugler, Chris Cenac Jr.
• Iowa State: Tamin Lipsey, Killyan Toure, Joshua Jefferson, Milan Momcilovic, Blake Buchanan

Emanuel Sharp’s early shooting made him a clear danger from distance for Houston. For Iowa State, Joshua Jefferson led the Cyclones early with seven points while Milan Momcilovic chipped in with five.

In-game moments, substitutions and discipline

• Foul trouble: Kalifa Sakho picked up two fouls for Houston early. Baltasar Rodriguez of Miami? (Note: only use provided info; Rodriguez mention pertains to other content and is not included here.)
• Substitutions: Later in the game Houston subbed in Tomas Chancalay for Tanner Beason and added Luis Díaz to add pace. Iowa State brought on reserves who made scoring contributions and forced Houston into defensive adjustments.
• Bench impact: Iowa State’s bench produced a 12-2 advantage during one stretch, a factor that kept the Cyclones level despite Houston’s shooting.

Prediction and what to expect — ISU vs. HOU outlook

Eugene Rapay of the Des Moines Register predicts home-court advantage will help the Cyclones, but cautions that execution against Houston’s disruptive style will be decisive. The team that earns more defensive stops and creates extra possessions should have the edge in this gritty Big Monday matchup. Expect a physical, half-court grind with both teams fighting for every loose ball.

Where and when to watch Iowa State vs. Houston

• TV: ESPN
• Stream: Fubo (free trial)
• Date / Time: Monday, Feb. 16 — start time ~8 p.m. CT
• Location: Hilton Coliseum, Ames

What’s next for Iowa State basketball

Iowa State sits at 22-3 overall and has a stretch of important conference games coming up: at BYU (Feb. 21), at Utah (Feb. 24), vs. Texas Tech (Feb. 28) and at Arizona (March 2). A strong showing vs. Houston would keep the Cyclones firmly in the top tier of the Big 12 race.

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