The atmosphere inside Hilton Coliseum on February 7, 2026, was nothing short of electric as the Iowa State Cyclones continued their incredible home streak, edging out the Baylor Bears in a nail-biting 72-69 victory. This latest win not only kept Iowa State’s home record spotless but also underscored their growing reputation as one of the most formidable teams in college basketball this season. The Cyclones, now 21-2 overall and 8-2 in Big 12 play, showed resilience and poise, especially when Baylor mounted a furious late-game rally that nearly upended the script.
Coming into the contest, the Cyclones were riding high on a four-game winning streak, each victory marked by double-digit margins—three of them by 30 points or more. The betting odds reflected this dominance, with Iowa State favored by 15.5 points and the money line heavily tilted in their favor at -1200. Baylor, meanwhile, entered with a 13-10 record (3-8 in conference) and was considered a +750 underdog, despite having just snapped a rough patch with back-to-back wins over West Virginia and Colorado.
But as anyone familiar with Big 12 basketball knows, nothing is guaranteed. The conference’s topsy-turvy nature means that upsets lurk around every corner, and Baylor nearly pulled off a shocker in Ames. With less than three minutes remaining, Iowa State appeared to have the game in hand, leading 70-55 after a series of clutch plays from Tamin Lipsey and Milan Momcilovic. Yet, the Bears refused to fold. Cameron Carr, Baylor’s standout guard, spearheaded a 14-2 run, draining his fifth three-pointer of the afternoon to bring the score to 72-69 with just 1.2 seconds left on the clock.
Despite the late drama, the Cyclones held firm. Senior Tamin Lipsey was a key figure throughout, notching 14 points and grabbing a team-high nine rebounds—four of them on the offensive glass. His relentless energy and timely buckets, especially two back-to-back drives late in the second half, gave Iowa State the cushion they needed when the pressure mounted. Lipsey also made history, recording his 284th career steal to pass Kansas legend Mario Chalmers for third on the Big 12’s all-time steals list. With this win, Lipsey also moved up to 20th on Iowa State’s all-time scoring list and tied for the 15th most games played in program history at 123 appearances.
Head coach T.J. Otzelberger reached a significant milestone as well, earning his 116th victory at Iowa State. This achievement moved him to fourth on the Cyclones’ all-time wins list and set the record for most victories by a coach in their first five years at the helm, surpassing Fred Hoiberg’s previous mark. Otzelberger also joined an elite group as the fourth coach in program history to record at least 50 conference wins. These accomplishments are testament to the culture of consistency and competitiveness he’s fostered in Ames.
Milan Momcilovic, whose name has become synonymous with scoring excellence this season, led the Cyclones with 21 points—his 11th 20-point game of the year. He continued to light it up from beyond the arc, moving into sixth place on Iowa State’s single-season three-point list with 90 makes. Joshua Jefferson added 15 points, with 10 coming after halftime, and surpassed 300 career assists, further highlighting the depth and versatility of this Cyclones squad. Killyan Toure and Blake Buchanan also contributed key moments, with Toure’s timely steals and Buchanan’s emphatic slam helping swing momentum when the game hung in the balance.
Baylor’s Cameron Carr was the game’s top scorer, pouring in 24 points on the strength of five made threes. Tounde Yessoufou chipped in with crucial baskets during Baylor’s late comeback attempt, including a pair of treys that kept the Bears within striking distance. Despite being outrebounded 37-25 by the Cyclones, Baylor’s effort on the offensive end kept them alive until the final whistle.
The first half saw both teams trading blows, with Iowa State never trailing until a barrage of threes by Carr and Yessoufou gave Baylor a brief 27-24 lead. The Cyclones weathered a four-minute scoreless drought before regaining their composure, thanks to a Jefferson lay-in and late triples from Nate Heise and Jamarion Batemon that sent them into the break up 37-33. The second half was a rollercoaster, with Baylor briefly retaking the lead before Iowa State’s offense, led by Momcilovic and Lipsey, responded with a decisive run. The Cyclones’ defense, ranked among the nation’s best, managed to stymie Baylor’s shooters for much of the game, but the Bears’ late surge proved that no lead is truly safe in the Big 12.
Looking at the broader picture, Iowa State’s victory extended their home winning streak to 14 games, the eighth-longest in Hilton Coliseum history. The Cyclones’ +21.7 average margin of victory this season ranks second in all of college basketball, a testament to their ability to dominate on both ends of the court. Offensively, they average 86.5 points per game, ranking 19th nationally, while their defense allows just 64.8 points per contest, good for 15th in the country. Momcilovic’s D1-leading 54.0% shooting from three-point range has been a major weapon, while Jefferson and Lipsey provide steady production and leadership.
Baylor, for their part, showed flashes of the form that once made them a perennial contender. Carr’s scoring prowess and Yessoufou’s athleticism give the Bears a fighting chance on any night, but defensive lapses and rebounding struggles have hampered their consistency. Head coach Scott Drew will no doubt look to build on the positives from this near-upset as the Bears aim to finish the season strong.
The Cyclones’ sweep of Baylor this season—having also won 70-60 in Waco on January 7—cements their dominance in the head-to-head series, now having taken seven of the last eight meetings. With the win, Iowa State remains firmly in the hunt for the Big 12 title and continues to build a case as a legitimate national championship threat.
Next up, Iowa State travels to TCU on February 10, eager to keep their momentum rolling in what’s shaping up to be one of the most exciting Big 12 races in recent memory. For now, though, Cyclones fans can savor another hard-fought home victory—and dream a little bigger with each passing week.