Basketball in the Big 12 is basically a nightly meat grinder. If you don't believe that, just look at the score of the Iowa State game from this past Saturday, January 17, 2026. The No. 2 ranked Cyclones traveled to Cincinnati and walked right into a buzzsaw, falling 79-70 to the Bearcats at Fifth Third Arena.
It was a rough watch if you’re a fan from Ames.
Honestly, the score doesn't even tell the full story of how much the Cyclones struggled to find their rhythm early on. This was their second loss in a row after starting the season with 16 straight wins. One minute they’re looking like the best team in the country, and the next, they’re getting bullied on the road in back-to-back games. First it was Kansas on Tuesday, and now this.
The Cincinnati Breakdown
Cincinnati came out swinging. They were desperate for a win after starting conference play 0-3, and it showed. They forced 12 Iowa State turnovers and turned those into 20 points. That’s usually Iowa State’s brand of basketball—forcing the mistakes—but the roles were totally reversed.
Day Day Thomas was the main problem for the Cyclones defense, dropping 19 points. Jalen Celestine also went off early, hitting three straight triples to give Cincinnati an 11-point cushion. By the time the halftime whistle blew, Iowa State was down 35-31. They had a chance, but they were playing catch-up the whole afternoon.
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Momcilovic Tried to Save the Day
If there was one bright spot, it was Milan Momcilovic. He was absolutely unconscious in the second half.
The kid finished with a career-high 34 points. He hit eight 3-pointers! At one point in the second half, Iowa State trailed by 17 points, and Momcilovic basically decided to carry the entire team on his back. He scored 12 points during a 14-2 run that cut the lead to just five with under five minutes to play.
But it wasn't enough.
The Cyclones ran out of gas, and Cincinnati hit their free throws down the stretch to seal it. Tamin Lipsey, who is usually the engine for this team, had a weirdly quiet day with just 7 points, though he did grab 7 rebounds and dish out 4 assists.
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What’s Going Wrong?
It’s kinda weird to see a team this good drop two straight, but the Big 12 is just different. When you have a target on your back like a No. 2 ranking, every road game feels like a championship game for the home team.
- Slow Starts: Iowa State trailed by double digits in the first half of both the Kansas and Cincinnati games. You can't keep doing that on the road.
- Three-Point Defense: Cincinnati, a team that usually isn't great from deep, hit 9 threes.
- Turnovers: Usually, T.J. Otzelberger’s squad protects the ball like it’s made of gold. Not lately.
The "score of the Iowa State game" reflects a team that is currently struggling to handle the physicality of conference play away from Hilton Coliseum.
Don't Forget the Women's Team
While the men were struggling in Ohio, the No. 19 Iowa State women’s team was also having a tough time. They played on Sunday, January 18, and the score of the Iowa State game there was an 86-58 loss to Oklahoma State.
Audi Crooks did her thing, scoring 15 points and keeping her double-digit scoring streak alive (that's 85 games in a row now, which is just insane). But the Cowgirls were on fire from deep, making 14 three-pointers. Stailee Heard even recorded a triple-double for OSU. It’s just been a long weekend for Cyclone fans across the board.
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What’s Next for the Cyclones?
If you're looking for a silver lining, Iowa State is heading home. They play better at Hilton Coliseum. That's just a fact.
The men host UCF on Tuesday, January 20. It's a 6:00 PM tip-off on CBS Sports Network. They need this one to stop the bleeding before the poll voters drop them out of the top ten entirely. Meanwhile, the women return home to host Cincinnati on Wednesday.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Check the local listings for the UCF game on Tuesday; the 6:00 PM start is a bit earlier than usual.
- Keep an eye on the AP Top 25 poll coming out Monday afternoon; expect a significant drop for the men’s team, likely down to the No. 7 or No. 8 spot.
- If you're attending the UCF game, be prepared for a rowdy Hilton crowd—the team desperately needs that "Hilton Magic" to reset the season momentum.
The season is far from over, but the margin for error in the Big 12 has officially vanished.