Oklahoma State put up a great fight against No. 3 Iowa State, but ultimately fall short on the road in Ames
Ames, Iowa – The No. 3 Iowa State Cyclones (16-0, 3-0 Big 12) extended their unbeaten streak with an 83-71 victory over the Oklahoma State Cowboys (13-3, 1-2 Big 12) on Saturday afternoon at a raucous Hilton Coliseum.
Despite a competitive first half where OSU showed grit on the road and led for much of the period, the Cowboys couldn’t sustain their momentum as Iowa State dominated the second half to pull away for the win.
Entering the game as heavy underdogs against the nation’s last remaining undefeated team, Oklahoma State under second-year head coach Steve Lutz proved they could hang with the elite early on.
The Cowboys jumped out to a quick start, scoring the game’s first points and building a nine-point lead midway through the first half behind strong interior play and efficient shooting.
Iranian transfer Parsa Fallah was a force inside, scoring seven of OSU’s first 17 points, including an early 3-pointer that set the tone.
The Cowboys shot 46% from the field in the opening 20 minutes, knocked down 4-of-9 from beyond the arc, and went a stellar 16-of-19 from the free-throw line.
They also edged Iowa State on the boards 13-10 and limited the Cyclones’ potent offense, holding them to just seven points off seven OSU turnovers.
Iowa State, however, clawed back late in the half. Milan Momcilovic heated up with 16 first-half points, including a memorable three-pointer that helped the Cyclones take a slim 42-40 lead into the break.
Despite trailing at halftime, OSU’s performance in the hostile environment, where “Hilton Magic” is legendary, demonstrated their toughness, as they led for nearly 13 minutes of the period and kept the game within striking distance.
The second half told a different story, as Iowa State flipped the script with superior rebounding and timely scoring.
The Cyclones opened with an 11-2 run, including nine straight points, to stretch their lead to 53-44. OSU’s shooting cooled off dramatically, hitting just 11-of-26 from the field and 4-of-13 from three.
Fallah, who had been dominant, picked up his fourth foul just six minutes in, forcing him to the bench briefly and contributing to a three-minute field-goal drought for the Cowboys.
Iowa State capitalized on the glass, outrebounding OSU 24-10 in the half, including a 7-0 edge in offensive rebounds that translated to a 10-0 advantage in second-chance points. The free-throw disparity also hurt OSU, with Iowa State attempting 16 foul shots compared to the Cowboys’ seven.
Despite the mounting deficit, Oklahoma State showed fight. They mounted a brief rally, making four straight shots to cut the gap, and Kanye Clary was fouled on a three-point attempt with 1:44 remaining, sinking all three free throws to trim the score to 77-70.
But Iowa State played keep-away effectively in the final moments, sealing the 12-point win with free throws and smart clock management.
Fallah led all scorers with a double-double of 21 points on 8-of-12 shooting, 11 rebounds, three assists, and two steals, showing why he’s become a key piece for OSU.
Anthony Roy added 19 points, including five 3-pointers, while Clary contributed 11 points and six assists.
For Iowa State, Joshua Jefferson paced the team with 19 points, Momcilovic finished with 18 on efficient 5-of-6 shooting, and five Cyclones reached double figures, highlighting their balanced attack.
The loss drops Oklahoma State to 1-2 in Big 12 play, but their first-half competitiveness offers positives as they prepare for a tough conference slate.
Iowa State, meanwhile, notches their 14th double-digit victory of the season and solidifies their status as a national title contender.
Next up for OSU is a home tilt against Texas Tech, while the Cyclones head to Kansas for a marquee matchup.