Nate Heise’s go-ahead three-pointer with 1:17 remaining in regulation propelled No. 6 Iowa State to a 70-67 victory over No. 2 Houston Monday night, continuing a surge for the Cyclones as March Madness approaches.
The win, secured after a frantic final sequence involving an offensive rebound by Tamin Lipsey and a clutch free throw by Joshua Jefferson, marked Iowa State’s second consecutive triumph over a top-10 opponent, following a 74-56 defeat of No. 8 Kansas on Saturday. The Cyclones (23-3, 10-3 Big 12) now stand one game behind Houston (23-3, 11-2) and Arizona for the lead in the Big 12 standings.
Heise finished with 11 points, shooting 3-for-3 from beyond the arc. Jefferson led Iowa State in scoring with 12 points, while Blake Buchanan added 10. The victory came hours after Heise’s sister, Taylor Heise, scored a goal for the U.S. Women’s Olympic hockey team in a 5-0 win over Sweden, securing their place in the gold-medal game in Milan.
Houston, which had its six-game winning streak snapped, was led by Kingston Flemings with 22 points. Emanuel Sharp contributed 16 points, all in the first half, and Milos Uzan added 11.
Iowa State’s recent success places them in a strong position as the NCAA Tournament nears. According to a Top 16 preview released by the NCAA committee on February 22, 2026, the Cyclones are projected as a No. 4 seed – the final No. 1 seed in the field. This marks the fourth consecutive year Iowa State has been included in the committee’s Top 16 preview.
The Cyclones will continue their schedule Saturday, February 21, with a road matchup against No. 22 Brigham Young (19-7, 7-6) at the Marriott Center in Provo, Utah. The game is scheduled for a 10:30 p.m. ET tipoff and will be broadcast on ESPN.
BetMGM currently lists Iowa State as a 2.5-point favorite, with a moneyline of -160. The over/under is set at 149.5. A predicted score is Iowa State 84, BYU 70.
Houston will host No. 4 Arizona on Saturday.
