Cincinnati Bearcats Upset Iowa State Cyclones 79-70
Saturday, January 17, 2026, 2:00 PM ET · Fifth Third Arena
Cincinnati Bearcats 79, Iowa State Cyclones 70, 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 Iowa State Cyclones vs Cincinnati Bearcats?
Cincinnati Bearcats beat Iowa State Cyclones 79-70 at Fifth Third Arena on January 17, 2026.
Who was favored in Iowa State Cyclones vs Cincinnati Bearcats?
Iowa State Cyclones were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -245 (about 71% implied). The underdog won.
In a surprising turn of events, the Cincinnati Bearcats defeated the Iowa State Cyclones 79-70 at Fifth Third Arena. This victory marks a significant moment for the Bearcats, who had struggled in their recent games but managed to pull off an impressive win against a strong opponent. Cincinnati entered the game with a home record of 10-8 and had been 4-6 in their last ten games, while Iowa State boasted a formidable away record of 16-2 and had previously won nine of their last ten games before this matchup.
Cincinnati's recent form had shown some inconsistency, with their last ten games resulting in a record of 4-6. They had averaged 72.6 points scored and allowed 67.2 points per game during this stretch. Their last five games reflected a similar trend, with an average of 71.6 points scored and 66.4 points allowed, indicating a slight improvement. The Bearcats had entered the game on a one-game winning streak, having defeated the Colorado Buffaloes 77-68 in their previous outing.
On the other hand, Iowa State had been on a strong run, averaging 83.3 points scored and allowing 63.6 points during their last ten games. However, they faced a setback in their last game against the Kansas Jayhawks, where they lost 63-84, breaking a nine-game winning streak. Despite their impressive overall record, this loss may have affected their momentum heading into the game against Cincinnati.
In terms of home and away performance, Cincinnati had a home record of 4-1 in their last five games, while Iowa State had a solid away record of 2-1 in their last three. Historically, the Bearcats had struggled against the Cyclones, losing both of their previous meetings in the 2025 season, with scores of 56-76 and 70-81.
Injury-wise, the block did not provide specific details about any key players missing from either team, which suggests both squads were at relatively full strength for this matchup. The betting market had favored Iowa State, with DraftKings listing them as 5.5-point favorites, indicating expectations for a competitive game. The total points line was set at 141.5, reflecting the anticipated scoring capabilities of both teams.
The game conditions were likely conducive to a competitive atmosphere at Fifth Third Arena, where Cincinnati had the advantage of home crowd support. Fans were treated to a thrilling contest, with the Bearcats demonstrating resilience and skill throughout the game.
As the game unfolded, key moments included several scoring plays in the second half that helped Cincinnati maintain their lead. Jizzle James made crucial free throws to extend the Bearcats' advantage, while Sencire Harris contributed with timely layups and free throws. Milan Momcilovic also made significant contributions with two three-point jumpers that kept the momentum in Cincinnati's favor.
Overall, this victory for Cincinnati not only boosts their confidence but also serves as a reminder of their potential, especially against a highly ranked opponent like Iowa State. The Bearcats will look to build on this success in their upcoming games, while the Cyclones will need to regroup after this unexpected defeat.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | ISU -5.5 | 141.5 o -112 / u -108 | Iowa State Cyclones -245 · Cincinnati Bearcats +200 |
Leaders
- PointsDay Day Thomas19Cincinnati Bearcats
- AssistsBaba Miller4Cincinnati Bearcats
- ReboundsBaba Miller12Cincinnati Bearcats
- PointsMilan Momcilovic34Iowa State Cyclones
- AssistsJoshua Jefferson5Iowa State Cyclones
- ReboundsJoshua Jefferson9Iowa State Cyclones
Recent form
Cincinnati Bearcats
Last 10: 4-6Streak W172.6 scored · 67.2 allowed per game4-1 at home
- W77-68vs Colorado BuffaloesJan 15
- L72-73at UCF KnightsJan 11
- L60-62at West Virginia MountaineersJan 7
- L60-67vs Houston CougarsJan 3
- W89-62vs Lipscomb BisonsDec 30
- L65-68at Clemson TigersDec 21
- W88-51vs Alabama State HornetsDec 18
- L65-84at Georgia BulldogsDec 13
- L74-79at Xavier MusketeersDec 6
- W76-58vs Tarleton State TexansDec 2
Iowa State Cyclones
Last 10: 9-1Streak L183.3 scored · 63.6 allowed per game2-1 away
- L63-84at Kansas JayhawksJan 14
- W83-71vs Oklahoma State CowboysJan 10
- W70-60at Baylor BearsJan 8
- W80-59vs West Virginia MountaineersJan 3
- W89-61vs Houston Christian HuskiesDec 30
- W91-60vs Long Beach State BeachDec 21
- W78-53vs Eastern Illinois PanthersDec 14
- W66-62vs Iowa HawkeyesDec 12
- W81-58at Purdue BoilermakersDec 6
- W132-68vs Alcorn State BravesDec 4
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 | Iowa State Cyclones | Cincinnati Bearcats |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 22-51 | 30-69 |
| Field goal % | 43 | 43 |
| Three-pointers | 9-21 | 10-34 |
| Three-point % | 43 | 29 |
| Free throws | 17-27 | 9-12 |
| Free throw % | 63 | 75 |
| Rebounds | 32 | 39 |
| Offensive rebounds | 11 | 15 |
| Defensive rebounds | 21 | 24 |
| Assists | 11 | 15 |
| Steals | 4 | 8 |
| Blocks | 2 | 4 |
| Turnovers | 12 | 8 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 10 | 20 |
| Fast-break points | 2 | 13 |
| Points in the paint | 26 | 20 |
| Fouls | 14 | 18 |
| Largest lead | 4 | 17 |
| Lead changes | 1 | 1 |
| Time in front | 13 | 84 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half38-38Joshua Jefferson makes driving layup
- 2nd Half38-41Baba Miller makes 25-foot three point jumper (Jalen Celestine assists)
- 2nd Half38-43Day Day Thomas makes layup
- 2nd Half39-43Joshua Jefferson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half40-43Joshua Jefferson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half40-45Day Day Thomas makes 16-foot step back jumpshot
- 2nd Half42-45Joshua Jefferson makes 10-foot hook shot
- 2nd Half42-47Jizzle James makes 13-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half42-50Jalen Celestine makes 23-foot three point jumper (Baba Miller assists)
- 2nd Half42-52Tyler McKinley makes layup (Jalen Celestine assists)
- 2nd Half42-54Day Day Thomas makes 22-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half42-56Jizzle James makes 10-foot floating jump shot (Keyshuan Tillery assists)
- 2nd Half43-56Joshua Jefferson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half44-56Joshua Jefferson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half45-56Joshua Jefferson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half45-57Sencire Harris makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half45-58Sencire Harris makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half45-60Sencire Harris makes driving layup
- 2nd Half45-62Sencire Harris makes layup (Baba Miller assists)
- 2nd Half48-62Milan Momcilovic makes 26-foot three point jumper (Blake Buchanan assists)
- 2nd Half48-64Baba Miller makes 8-foot hook shot
- 2nd Half50-64Joshua Jefferson makes 3-foot hook shot
- 2nd Half50-67Day Day Thomas makes 24-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half53-67Milan Momcilovic makes 23-foot three point jumper (Joshua Jefferson assists)
- 2nd Half54-67Milan Momcilovic makes free throw 1 of 3
- 2nd Half55-67Milan Momcilovic makes free throw 2 of 3
- 2nd Half56-67Milan Momcilovic makes free throw 3 of 3
- 2nd Half56-69Jizzle James makes 11-foot floating jump shot
- 2nd Half59-69Milan Momcilovic makes 24-foot three point step back jumpshot
- 2nd Half61-69Nate Heise makes layup (Killyan Toure assists)
- 2nd Half64-69Milan Momcilovic makes 27-foot three point jumper (Joshua Jefferson assists)
- 2nd Half64-71Day Day Thomas makes 17-foot step back jumpshot
- 2nd Half64-73Jizzle James makes 19-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half64-75Sencire Harris makes layup (Jizzle James assists)
- 2nd Half67-75Milan Momcilovic makes 25-foot three point jumper (Joshua Jefferson assists)
- 2nd Half67-76Sencire Harris makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half67-77Sencire Harris makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half70-77Milan Momcilovic makes 25-foot three point jumper (Tamin Lipsey assists)
- 2nd Half70-78Jizzle James makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half70-79Jizzle James makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours Cincinnati Bearcats, below favours Iowa State Cyclones.
Venue
- Fifth Third ArenaCincinnati, OH
- Attendance10551
- OfficialsRandy McCall, Antinio Petty, Keith Patterson
Elsewhere
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- Men's NCAA basketball 2026-27 Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings
- Transfers, recruits and roster moves for key men's NCAA basketball teams
- Michigan 5-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. (knee) to miss season
- With $6.5 million left on deal, UCLA fires AD Martin Jarmond