Houston vs. Iowa State: 2026 College Basketball Preview & Prediction | Knup Sports

February 17, 2026 Emma Walker – News Editor News

The Houston Cougars will face the Iowa State Cyclones in a highly anticipated Big 12 Conference matchup on Monday, February 16, 2026, at Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa. Tip-off is scheduled for 9:00 PM ET and will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.

Houston enters the contest with a 23-2 overall record, riding a six-game winning streak. Their most recent victory came against Kansas State, a 78-64 win on February 14th. The Cougars’ only two losses this season have been to Texas Tech and Tennessee.

Iowa State boasts a 22-3 record and is firmly in contention near the top of the Big 12 standings with a 9-3 conference record. They secured a significant win over Kansas on Saturday, February 14th, defeating the Jayhawks 74-56. Milan Momcilovic led the Cyclones in scoring with 18 points in that game.

Iowa State is currently favored by 2.5 points, according to ESPN game odds. The Cyclones have been particularly strong at home, maintaining a perfect 17-0 record at Hilton Coliseum this season, while going 5-3 on the road.

This will be the only regular season meeting between Houston and Iowa State. A rematch is possible at the Big 12 Tournament. Houston is coming off a home win against Kansas State, while Iowa State is looking to build on their momentum from the victory over Kansas.

Key players to watch for Houston include Emanuel Sharp, who averages 16.6 points per game, and Kingston Flemings, who contributes 16.4 points per game. For Iowa State, Milan Momcilovic is a key offensive threat, averaging 18.4 points per game, while Tamin Lipsey contributes 5.3 points per game.

According to ESPN Analytics, Houston has a 43.5% chance of winning, while Iowa State is given a 56.5% probability. Houston has a 92% win rate and a 90.5% win rate when favored. They have covered the spread in 7 of their last 10 games.

Iowa State averages 84.2 points per game and boasts a field goal percentage of 50.6%. They too average 9 steals per game. Houston averages 78.3 points per game and has a field goal percentage of 45.3%.