Iowa State Edges Houston in Close Contest
Monday, February 16, 2026, 9:00 PM ET · Hilton Coliseum
Iowa State Cyclones 70, Houston Cougars 67, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Houston Cougars vs Iowa State Cyclones?
Iowa State Cyclones beat Houston Cougars 70-67 at Hilton Coliseum on February 16, 2026.
Who was favored in Houston Cougars vs Iowa State Cyclones?
Iowa State Cyclones were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -148 (about 60% implied). The favorite won.
In a thrilling matchup at Hilton Coliseum, the Iowa State Cyclones narrowly defeated the Houston Cougars with a final score of 70-67. Both teams entered the game with identical records of 23-3, making this clash particularly significant as they both vie for top positions in their league. The Cyclones' victory not only avenged their previous loss to the Cougars earlier in the season but also reinforced their strong home advantage, where they have been formidable this year.
Iowa State has shown solid form recently, boasting a record of 7-3 over their last ten games, with a current winning streak of one. Their average points scored during this stretch stands at 78.0, while they have allowed an average of 67.7 points per game. The Cyclones have been particularly strong at home, maintaining a perfect home record of 5-0 in their last five games, with an impressive average of 78.6 points scored and only 63.0 points allowed.
On the other hand, the Houston Cougars have been on a remarkable run, winning six consecutive games and holding a 9-1 record in their last ten outings. They have averaged 79.8 points scored and 62.7 points allowed during this period. Houston's away performance has also been commendable, with a 4-1 record in their last five away games, where they have averaged 75.2 points scored and 58.2 points allowed.
The previous meeting between these two teams occurred on February 22, 2025, where Iowa State suffered a 59-68 defeat at Houston. This latest victory for the Cyclones not only serves as a morale booster but also highlights their growth since that earlier encounter.
In terms of injuries, the block does not provide any specific details that could have affected either team's performance. Both squads appeared to be at full strength for this pivotal matchup.
The betting market, as provided by DraftKings, had Iowa State favored by 2.5 points, with a total set at 134.5. The odds reflected the competitive nature of the matchup, with Iowa State's moneyline at -148.0 and Houston's at 124.0, indicating a closely contested game.
Conditions in Hilton Coliseum were favorable for both teams, contributing to an exciting atmosphere for the fans. As the game progressed, viewers were treated to a series of intense scoring plays, particularly in the second half. Notable moments included a crucial 22-foot three-point jumper by Jamarion Batemon that briefly gave Iowa State the lead, and a late free throw by Joshua Jefferson that sealed the win for the Cyclones.
Overall, this game showcased the resilience and skill of both teams, with Iowa State ultimately coming out on top in a tightly contested battle. The Cyclones will look to build on this momentum as they continue their campaign, while Houston will aim to rebound from this setback.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | ISU -2.5 | 134.5 o -110 / u -110 | Houston Cougars +124 · Iowa State Cyclones -148 |
Leaders
- PointsJoshua Jefferson12Iowa State Cyclones
- AssistsJoshua Jefferson5Iowa State Cyclones
- ReboundsTamin Lipsey8Iowa State Cyclones
- PointsKingston Flemings22Houston Cougars
- AssistsMilos Uzan6Houston Cougars
- ReboundsChris Cenac Jr.12Houston Cougars
Recent form
Iowa State Cyclones
Last 10: 7-3Streak W178 scored · 67.7 allowed per game5-0 at home
- W74-56vs Kansas JayhawksFeb 14
- L55-62at TCU Horned FrogsFeb 11
- W72-69vs Baylor BearsFeb 7
- W95-61at Kansas State WildcatsFeb 1
- W97-67vs Colorado BuffaloesJan 30
- W84-71at Oklahoma State CowboysJan 24
- W87-57vs UCF KnightsJan 21
- L70-79at Cincinnati BearcatsJan 17
- L63-84at Kansas JayhawksJan 14
- W83-71vs Oklahoma State CowboysJan 10
Houston Cougars
Last 10: 9-1Streak W679.8 scored · 62.7 allowed per game4-1 away
- W78-64vs Kansas State WildcatsFeb 14
- W66-52at Utah UtesFeb 11
- W77-66at BYU CougarsFeb 8
- W79-55vs UCF KnightsFeb 5
- W76-54vs Cincinnati BearcatsJan 31
- W79-70at TCU Horned FrogsJan 29
- L86-90at Texas Tech Red RaidersJan 24
- W103-73vs Arizona State Sun DevilsJan 18
- W77-48vs West Virginia MountaineersJan 14
- W77-55at Baylor BearsJan 10
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | 36-3 | - | 16-2 |
| Houston | 30-7 | 2 | 14-4 |
| Iowa State | 29-8 | 4 | 12-6 |
| Kansas | 24-11 | 4 | 12-6 |
| Texas Tech | 23-11 | 4 | 12-6 |
| TCU | 23-12 | 5 | 11-7 |
| BYU | 23-12 | 7 | 9-9 |
| UCF | 21-12 | 7 | 9-9 |
| West Virginia | 21-14 | 7 | 9-9 |
| Cincinnati | 18-15 | 7 | 9-9 |
| Colorado | 17-16 | 9 | 7-11 |
| Arizona State | 17-16 | 9 | 7-11 |
| Oklahoma State | 20-15 | 10 | 6-12 |
| Baylor | 17-17 | 10 | 6-12 |
| Kansas State | 12-20 | 13 | 3-15 |
| Utah | 10-22 | 14 | 2-16 |
Box score
| Stat | Houston Cougars | Iowa State Cyclones |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 24-57 | 25-51 |
| Field goal % | 42 | 49 |
| Three-pointers | 12-34 | 9-22 |
| Three-point % | 35 | 41 |
| Free throws | 7-11 | 11-22 |
| Free throw % | 64 | 50 |
| Rebounds | 35 | 31 |
| Offensive rebounds | 9 | 8 |
| Defensive rebounds | 26 | 23 |
| Assists | 14 | 15 |
| Steals | 2 | 5 |
| Blocks | 5 | 2 |
| Turnovers | 7 | 3 |
| Team turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 0 | 12 |
| Fast-break points | 0 | 2 |
| Points in the paint | 16 | 28 |
| Fouls | 21 | 14 |
| Largest lead | 10 | 10 |
| Lead changes | 9 | 9 |
| Time in front | 48 | 46 |
How the scoring went
- 1st Half30-28Kingston Flemings makes 11-foot pullup jump shot
- 1st Half30-31Nate Heise makes 22-foot three point jumper (Killyan Toure assists)
- 1st Half30-33Tamin Lipsey makes driving layup (Nate Heise assists)
- 1st Half30-34Blake Buchanan makes free throw 1 of 2
- 1st Half33-34Emanuel Sharp makes 23-foot three point jumper (Milos Uzan assists)
- 1st Half33-35Blake Buchanan makes free throw 2 of 2
- 1st Half34-35Emanuel Sharp makes free throw 1 of 2
- 1st Half35-35Emanuel Sharp makes free throw 2 of 2
- 1st Half35-37Tamin Lipsey makes driving layup
- 1st Half37-37Joseph Tugler makes 3-foot dunk (Milos Uzan assists)
- 1st Half37-40Milan Momcilovic makes 25-foot three point jumper
- 1st Half38-40Milos Uzan makes free throw 1 of 2
- 1st Half39-40Milos Uzan makes free throw 2 of 2
- 1st Half40-40Milos Uzan makes free throw 1 of 2
- 1st Half40-42Tamin Lipsey makes 16-foot pullup jump shot
- 1st Half40-43Killyan Toure makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half40-45Blake Buchanan makes 2-foot dunk (Joshua Jefferson assists)
- 2nd Half42-45Chris Cenac Jr. makes 1-foot dunk
- 2nd Half42-47Joshua Jefferson makes driving layup
- 2nd Half45-47Kingston Flemings makes 23-foot three point jumper (Chris Cenac Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half48-47Chris Cenac Jr. makes 25-foot three point jumper (Emanuel Sharp assists)
- 2nd Half51-47Isiah Harwell makes 23-foot three point jumper (Kingston Flemings assists)
- 2nd Half51-49Blake Buchanan makes 1-foot dunk
- 2nd Half53-49Milos Uzan makes 9-foot jumper
- 2nd Half55-49Kingston Flemings makes 16-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half58-49Kingston Flemings makes 23-foot three point jumper (Joseph Tugler assists)
- 2nd Half58-51Killyan Toure makes driving layup
- 2nd Half58-53Blake Buchanan makes 2-foot dunk (Joshua Jefferson assists)
- 2nd Half60-53Kalifa Sakho makes 2-foot dunk (Kingston Flemings assists)
- 2nd Half63-53Kingston Flemings makes 25-foot three pointer
- 2nd Half63-55Dominykas Pleta makes layup
- 2nd Half63-58Jamarion Batemon makes 26-foot three point jumper (Tamin Lipsey assists)
- 2nd Half63-60Dominykas Pleta makes 2-foot dunk (Tamin Lipsey assists)
- 2nd Half63-62Joshua Jefferson makes 7-foot hook shot
- 2nd Half63-63Tamin Lipsey makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half65-63Chris Cenac Jr. makes layup (Milos Uzan assists)
- 2nd Half65-66Jamarion Batemon makes 22-foot three point jumper (Blake Buchanan assists)
- 2nd Half67-66Kingston Flemings makes 14-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half67-69Nate Heise makes 22-foot three point jumper (Joshua Jefferson assists)
- 2nd Half67-70Joshua Jefferson makes free throw 1 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours Iowa State Cyclones, below favours Houston Cougars.
Venue
- Hilton ColiseumAmes, IA
- Attendance14267
- OfficialsKipp Kissinger, Roger Ayers, Doug Sirmons
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