Hilton Coliseum has long been synonymous with chaos for visiting teams. On Monday night, it delivered another chapter of what fans proudly call "Hilton Magic."
No. 6 Iowa State erased a double digit second half deficit and closed on a dominant 17 to 4 run to defeat No. 2 Houston, 70 to 67. The comeback victory lifted the Cyclones to 23 and 3 overall and handed the Cougars just their second loss in Big 12 play this season. More importantly, it reaffirmed Iowa State’s standing as a legitimate contender for the conference crown.
After a frustrating loss at unranked TCU earlier in the week, Iowa State has now responded with back to back victories over top 10 opponents. First came a decisive win over No. 9 Kansas. Then came Monday’s emotional and tactical triumph against one of the nation’s most disciplined programs.
Momentum has officially returned to Ames.
Fast Start, Fierce Resistance
The Cyclones wasted no time energizing the home crowd. Iowa State opened the game on a sharp 15 to 5 run, executing with pace and precision on both ends of the floor. Their ball movement was crisp, their defensive rotations tight, and the building quickly became a factor.
However, Houston did what elite teams do. The Cougars steadied themselves.
Emanuel Sharp was instrumental in keeping Houston within reach during the first half. He scored all 16 of his points before halftime, knocking down four of seven attempts from three point range. His perimeter efficiency prevented Iowa State from creating meaningful separation, and despite the Cyclones’ early surge, they carried only a three point advantage into the break.
Houston had absorbed the punch. The real fight was still ahead.
Houston Seizes Control After Halftime
Kelvin Sampson’s team emerged from the locker room with a renewed edge. Houston opened the second half on an 18 to 6 run, flipping the script in a matter of minutes.
Defensively, the Cougars tightened their pressure on passing lanes and contested nearly every clean look. Offensively, they attacked downhill and generated higher percentage opportunities. The contrast from the first half was striking. Where Iowa State had been fluid, they now appeared stagnant. Where Houston had been reactive, they became assertive.
For a stretch, the game felt as though it was tilting irreversibly toward the visitors.
Kingston Flemings led the charge, finishing with 22 points and five rebounds on an efficient 9 of 15 shooting performance. Milos Uzan added 11 points, complementing Sharp’s first half scoring burst. Houston looked poised to extend its six game winning streak and further solidify its standing near the top of the national rankings.
But the Cyclones were not finished.
Iowa State’s Perimeter Struggles Turn Into Late Game Brilliance
For much of the second half, Iowa State could not buy a three pointer. The Cyclones went 1 of 11 from beyond the arc during that stretch, a drought that threatened to define the night.
Then, in the moments that matter most, they rediscovered their touch.
Jamarion Batemon delivered the first spark, drilling a wide open three that gave Iowa State the lead once again. The shot shifted the emotional tone inside Hilton Coliseum and injected visible belief back into the Cyclones’ bench.
Moments later, Nate Heise followed with a corner three of his own. It was a high pressure attempt and he did not hesitate. The basket extended Iowa State’s slim margin and forced Houston to respond under mounting tension.
From that point forward, Iowa State’s defensive intensity reached another level. The Cyclones contested every drive, fought for every rebound, and executed late game possessions with composure.
Final Defensive Stand Seals It
Houston still had an opportunity to force overtime.
On one critical sequence, Chris Cenac rose to block Joshua Jefferson at the rim, giving the Cougars a final look. Cenac attempted a 10 footer in the closing seconds that could have tied the contest.
It did not fall.
The miss dropped directly into the hands of Blake Buchanan underneath the basket. Buchanan secured the rebound, and with it, secured the win.
The Cyclones’ 17 to 4 closing run was not merely a scoring surge. It was a demonstration of defensive discipline, poise under pressure, and situational execution against one of the toughest teams in the country.
Balanced Contributions Power the Cyclones
Joshua Jefferson led Iowa State with 12 points and six rebounds, though he struggled from long range, connecting on just one of five attempts. His impact extended beyond shooting, particularly in rebounding and defensive positioning.
Heise provided 11 critical points off the bench, none bigger than his late three pointer that helped preserve the lead. Buchanan added 10 points and delivered the decisive rebound in the final moments.
This victory followed a nearly 20 point dismantling of No. 9 Kansas on Saturday, underscoring Iowa State’s ability to recalibrate quickly after adversity.
From a roster construction standpoint, Iowa State’s depth is becoming increasingly valuable. Contributions are not limited to one primary scorer. Instead, the Cyclones rely on collective execution, disciplined defense, and opportunistic shot making.
Big 12 Race Tightens With Brutal Stretch Ahead
Despite the emotional high of Monday’s win, the conference title picture remains fluid.
Houston’s schedule offers no reprieve. The Cougars are set to face No. 4 Arizona and No. 8 Kansas in consecutive games, a demanding stretch that will test their resilience.
Iowa State’s path is equally challenging. The Cyclones travel to No. 23 BYU and still have matchups looming against No. 13 Texas Tech and Arizona. The margin for error in the Big 12 is razor thin.
Yet the broader narrative has shifted.
Just days removed from a disappointing loss at TCU, Iowa State has reclaimed momentum and positioned itself squarely in the championship conversation. The program has not captured a regular season conference title since 2001. With performances like this, that drought no longer feels insurmountable.
Hilton Magic Lives On
The phrase “Hilton Magic” is not merely marketing language. It reflects a sustained pattern of high profile victories in Ames, where ranked opponents routinely find themselves overwhelmed by atmosphere and execution.
Monday night reinforced that identity.
The Cyclones did not dominate from start to finish. They absorbed runs. They endured cold stretches. They faced a disciplined, battle tested Houston squad that nearly controlled the second half entirely.
But when the final possessions unfolded, Iowa State was sharper, more composed, and more opportunistic.
If the Big 12 remains undecided, Iowa State has made one point unmistakably clear: the road to a conference championship may very well pass through Hilton Coliseum.