AMES, Iowa – Milan Momcilovic canned a fadeaway jumper with :28 seconds left and sank two clutch free-throws moments later to help Iowa State (12-3, 1-1 Big 12) defeat previously unbeaten and No. 2-ranked Houston (14-1, 1-1 Big 12), 57-53 in a tough Big 12 matchup Tuesday night in Hilton Coliseum.
After Momcilovic’s big bucket, the Cougars had a chance for the final shot, but L.J. Cryer misfired on a 3-pointer with :14 seconds left. Tamin Lipsey secured the rebound and passed it to Momcilovic, who was fouled with :10 seconds remaining. He sank both free-throws to secure ISU’s 15th win over an AP Top-25 team in the T.J. Otzelberger era. Iowa State has seven wins over top 10 teams across the last two seasons and has eight total under Otz.
Momcilovic ended the game with 11 points and Lipsey led the Cyclones in scoring with 14.
Baskets were hard to come by for both teams in this defensive battle. After trailing by 10 points at the half, the Cougars took their first lead of the game with 3:10 left when a Jamal Shead runner made it 51-50. But Robert Jones scored a key lay-in on ISU’s next possession ending a six-minute field goal drought where the Cyclones were 0-for-9.
But the Cyclones got the key bucket it needed from Momcilovic after Shead tied the game at 53-53 with :55 seconds left.
Tre King scored seven of his nine points in the second half and led the Cyclones with nine caroms to aid the Cyclone effort. Emanuel Sharp led all players with 20 points behind five 3-pointers for the Cougars.
How It Happened
Iowa State couldn’t have scripted a better start. Playing suffocating defense while forcing four early turnovers, the Cyclones jumped out to a 14-0 lead. Momcilovic and Lipsey drained 3-pointers and Curtis Jones threw an alley-oop dunk to Hason Ward to help the Cyclones set the tone.
Leading 20-8, Iowa State went seven minutes without a field goal to allow the Cougars inch closer at 23-19 with 4:27 remaining in the half. Sharp had the hot hand for the Cougars, scoring 11 points.
But the Cyclones closed the half strong. Jones made four-straight free-throws, Momcilovic ended the field goal drought with a turnaround jumper in the paint and Lipsey made a lay-up near the close of the half to put ISU up 31-21 at the break.
It was the first time Houston trailed at halftime this season.
Houston opened the second half on a 13-6 run to cut the lead to 37-34, as the Cyclones made just 2-of-6 shots. The Cougars used a 7-0 run to tie the game at 41-41 with Shead scoring four-straight points.
King answered the bell with two-straight buckets, including a deep 3-pointer to push ISU back out in front, 46-41 with 8:56 remaining.
Houston led for only :32 seconds of the game.
Otzelberger is the first ISU head coach to defeat a team ranked No. 1 (North Carolina) and No. 2 (Houston) in the AP poll.
Top Performers
Hason Ward was a key bench player for the Cyclones. Despite playing limited minutes, Ward scored nine points on a perfect night from the field (4-4). He also grabbed two boards and had two steals.
Notes
- Tre King played in his 130th career contest this evening.
- He surpassed 650 career rebounds with his game-high nine boards.
- Tamin Lipsey broke the 450 point threshold this evening and now has 461.
- He is two steals shy of #17 in school history.
- Curtis Jones recorded rebound number 250 this evening.
- Keshon Gilbert is now over 200 points on the season, sitting at 201.
- Milan Momcilovic also scored his 200th point this evening.
- Hason Ward is one rebound shy of 400 for his career.
Up Next
Iowa State remains at home this weekend, playing host to Oklahoma State on Saturday (Jan. 13) in a 5 p.m. CT tipoff.
