The air in Ames during a Cy-Hawk week is different. It’s heavy. You can feel it in the parking lots outside Hilton Coliseum and you can definitely hear it when those garage doors open and the student section starts pouring in. If you’ve ever sat through an Iowa State Cyclones men's basketball vs Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball matchup, you know it isn't just about the box score. It’s about bragging rights for the next 365 days in a state that doesn't have pro teams to distract anyone. Honestly, people treat this like the Super Bowl with more corn and better defense.
Last December's meeting at Hilton was a total roller coaster. For a while, it looked like the Hawkeyes were going to waltz out of Ames with a blowout win. They were up 13 points in the first half. T.J. Otzelberger looked like he was about to burst a blood vessel. Then, the "Hilton Magic" thing happened. Not the fake kind people talk about on TV, but the actual, deafening, soul-crushing kind of pressure that forces turnovers.
The Epic 19-0 Run That Flipped the Script
Iowa came out firing. They were shooting over 60% from the floor in the first half. Bennett Stirtz and Tavion Banks were making everything they threw toward the rim. But basketball is a game of two halves, and the second one belonged entirely to the Cyclones.
A massive 19-0 run spanning the end of the first and start of the second changed everything. Iowa State went from being down 30-17 to suddenly holding the lead. Joshua Jefferson was a beast. He finished with 24 points, and he basically willed that team to a 66-62 victory. It wasn't pretty. Actually, it was kind of a rock fight toward the end, but that's exactly how Otzelberger likes it.
The Hawkeyes, led by first-year coach Ben McCollum, didn't just fold, though. They clawed back within a single point late in the game. It was 63-62 with about 90 seconds left. Hilton was shaking. Literally. But the Cyclones' defense—which has been a top-five unit nationally for a while now—forced a crucial turnover on Iowa’s final possession.
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Why the 2025 Matchup Mattered So Much
This wasn't just another game. It secured a historical sweep for Iowa State. For the first time ever, the Cyclones beat the Hawkeyes in football, volleyball, wrestling, and both men’s and women’s basketball in a single season. 15-2 in the Cy-Hawk Series standings. That is a stat that Hawkeye fans are going to have to hear about at every family reunion for the next decade.
Breaking Down the All-Time Series Numbers
If you look at the history, Iowa still holds the lead. They have 48 wins to Iowa State’s 31. But if you’ve been watching lately, the momentum is swinging hard toward Ames.
The Cyclones have won three in a row. They’re 3-1 against the Hawkeyes since Otzelberger took over. It’s a contrast in styles, really. Iowa usually wants to run you out of the gym. Iowa State wants to take you into a dark alley and see who's tougher.
Key Players in the Recent Rivalry:
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- Joshua Jefferson (ISU): The senior forward has become the Hawkeye killer. 24 points in the last outing.
- Tamin Lipsey (ISU): The hometown hero from Ames who just understands the rivalry's DNA.
- Bennett Stirtz (Iowa): A transfer who has brought a lot of grit to the Hawkeye backcourt.
- Owen Freeman (Iowa): A big man who usually anchors their interior, though foul trouble plagued him in the last meeting.
The Ben McCollum Era vs. The Otzelberger Standard
There’s a new dynamic in this rivalry. Ben McCollum took the Iowa job after a legendary run at Northwest Missouri State and a quick stop at Drake. He’s a winner. Everyone knows it. But walking into Hilton Coliseum when it’s ranked #4 in the country is a different kind of test.
McCollum admitted after the 66-62 loss that his team didn't come out of the locker room well for the second half. Some of his guys sat for too long with foul trouble and lost their rhythm. That’s the thing about Iowa State Cyclones men's basketball vs Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball—if you blink, the lead is gone.
Otzelberger’s system is built on "identity." It’s a buzzword, sure, but for them, it means 94 feet of pressure. They forced 16 Hawkeye turnovers in the last game. If you can't take care of the ball, you can't beat ISU. Period.
Common Misconceptions About the Rivalry
People think this game is always a high-scoring affair because of Iowa's traditional "all-gas, no-brakes" offense under previous regimes. But under McCollum and Otzelberger, it’s becoming much more of a tactical, defensive battle.
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Another mistake? Thinking home court doesn't matter as much in a rivalry. Look at the records. Iowa State is 16-9 at home against Iowa since the mid-70s. The road team almost always struggles with the officiating and the noise. In the last game, Iowa State shot 23 free throws while Iowa only got to the line five times. That’s not necessarily "home cooking," it’s what happens when one team is constantly attacking the rim and the other is reeling.
What’s Next for Both Programs?
Iowa State is currently eyeing a deep March run. They've been ranked in the AP Top 25 for nearly 40 straight weeks. They are a legitimate Final Four contender. Iowa, on the other hand, is in a rebuilding phase that looks surprisingly ahead of schedule. They are tough, they have shooters, and they’re starting to buy into McCollum’s defensive principles.
The next time these two meet in 2026, the venue shifts to Iowa City. Carver-Hawkeye Arena will be just as hostile as Hilton was.
How to watch the next Cy-Hawk showdown:
- Check the Schedule Early: These games are usually mid-week in December.
- Look for the "Gold Out" or "White Out": Both schools love their color-coordinated themes for this game.
- Monitor the NET Rankings: This game usually carries massive weight for NCAA Tournament seeding.
- Follow the Guards: Both teams' success lives and dies with backcourt pressure.
The Iowa State Cyclones men's basketball vs Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball series remains the premier sporting event in the state. Whether you wear cardinal and gold or black and gold, the intensity never dips. It’s loud, it’s physical, and it’s arguably the most underrated rivalry in college hoops.
Keep an eye on the injury reports and the transfer portal updates as we head toward next season. The rosters change, but the hatred—the "respectful" kind of hatred—stays exactly the same. You should definitely make it a point to catch the highlights of the Jefferson-Stirtz matchups; they’re basically a masterclass in high-stakes college basketball.