Winning feels like a habit until it isn't.
For the No. 2 Iowa State men’s basketball team, that reality hit like a freight train Tuesday night at Allen Fieldhouse. After ripping off 16 straight wins to start the 2025-26 season—the best start in the history of the program—the Cyclones finally blinked. An 84-63 loss to Kansas wasn't just a tally on the wrong side of the ledger. It was a physical, loud reminder of how quickly the iowa state basketball score can get away from you in the Big 12.
Honestly, the atmosphere in Lawrence felt like a trap from the jump. Kansas had just tumbled out of the AP Top 25, and you knew Bill Self wasn't going to let them stay down for long. The Jayhawks looked like the aggressors, and Iowa State, usually the most disciplined team in the country with the ball, coughed it up 10 times in the first half alone.
Breaking Down the Kansas Loss
The halftime score told a grim story: 44-23.
You just don’t come back from a 21-point hole in that building. Not when Tre White is hitting five triples and Darryn Peterson is playing like the lottery pick he's projected to be. Iowa State shot a miserable 24% in that first half. It was ugly.
📖 Related: Why Netball Girls Sri Lanka Are Quietly Dominating Asian Sports
- Final Score: Kansas 84, Iowa State 63.
- The Turning Point: A 10-0 Jayhawk run midway through the first half that sucked the air out of the Cyclones' transition game.
- Stat of the Night: ISU entered the game averaging 10 turnovers per game. They reached that mark before the first half buzzer even sounded.
Tamin Lipsey and Milan Momcilovic tried to spark something in the second half. They cut the lead to 11 at one point, but every time the Cyclones got close, Kansas found an answer at the rim or from the arc. Joshua Jefferson led the way for ISU with 12 points and 8 rebounds, but it was a quiet night for a team that has been screaming past opponents all year.
Why This Loss Matters (And Why It Doesn't)
Look, everyone loses at Phog Allen. It’s basically a rite of passage for a Top 5 team. The real question is how T.J. Otzelberger’s crew responds. Before this, they were the darlings of the analytical world. They had a defensive efficiency rating that sat at No. 3 in the nation according to KenPom. They had a win over Purdue—on the road—that made everyone think this might be the year they finally crack the Final Four.
One bad iowa state basketball score doesn't erase a 16-0 start. But it does expose some cracks. When the 3-pointers aren't falling (they shot 33% on Tuesday), can they win ugly? Against Baylor and Oklahoma State earlier this month, the answer was yes. Against a desperate Kansas team? Not so much.
Audi Crooks and the Women’s Recent Struggles
It’s been a rough week for the Hilton Magic on the women’s side, too.
👉 See also: Why Cumberland Valley Boys Basketball Dominates the Mid-Penn (and What’s Next)
The No. 11 ranked Iowa State women's team just dropped their third straight game, an 83-70 loss to West Virginia. Audi Crooks is still doing Audi Crooks things—she’s basically a walking double-double and leads the team with over 28 points per game—but the defense has gone a bit sideways.
Losing to Baylor, Cincinnati, and then West Virginia in a row is sort of shocking for a Bill Fennelly team. They are currently sitting at 14-3, which is still a great record, but that 2-3 conference start is a bit of a gut punch. They have Colorado up next, and they desperately need to get back in the win column to keep that Top 15 ranking secure.
A Look at the Upcoming Schedule
If you're tracking the next iowa state basketball score, keep your eyes on the weekend. The men return home to face Cincinnati on Saturday. Hilton Coliseum is going to be vibrating. Those fans have been waiting for a chance to lift this team back up after the Kansas debacle.
Here is what the immediate future looks like for the men:
✨ Don't miss: What Channel is Champions League on: Where to Watch Every Game in 2026
- Jan 17: vs. Cincinnati (A must-win to stay in the Big 12 title hunt).
- Jan 20: vs. UCF (Should be a "get right" game at home).
- Jan 24: at Oklahoma State (A tricky road test in Stillwater).
For the women, the path is just as steep:
- Jan 14: at Colorado (Late night tip, tough environment).
- Jan 18: at Oklahoma State (The Cowgirls are always tough at home).
- Jan 21: vs. Cincinnati (Finally back at Hilton).
Expert Take: Is the Panic Real?
Basically, no.
The men’s team is still 16-1. They have a freshman in Killyan Toure who looks like a future star and a veteran backcourt that doesn’t rattle easily. T.J. Otzelberger has built a culture based on "toughness," and nothing tests that more than a 21-point blowout loss. Expect them to double down on their defensive pressure.
The women's team is a bit more concerning only because of the three-game skid. However, Addy Brown and Jada Williams are too talented for this slump to last forever. They are missing some of that early-season rhythm, but with a post presence like Crooks, they are never truly out of any game.
To keep a close eye on the season's progression, fans should monitor the live box scores on the official Cyclones website or follow the Big 12's digital network for real-time updates. The NET rankings will fluctuate wildly this week, but both teams remain firmly in the NCAA Tournament conversation.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Review the Box Scores: Check the shooting splits from the Kansas game to see where the offensive stagnation started.
- Watch the Cincinnati Preview: Keep an eye on the injury report for Tamin Lipsey, who looked a little banged up toward the end of the Tuesday night clash.
- Check the Standings: See how the Big 12 hierarchy shifts after this week’s upsets; the gap between the top and the middle has narrowed significantly.