Make no mistake, this is a massive one.
The No. 6-ranked Iowa State men’s basketball crew performs at No. two Houston tonight on ESPN’s “Big Monday.” Tip-off is scheduled for eight p.m.
At stake: First location in America’s hardest basketball conference.
Also: A win would provide the Cyclones (20-5, 9-3) a large resume boost, bolstering their possibilities to begin the NCAA Tournament in close by Omaha. Houston is 22-3, 9-3.
More:How to watch, move and pay attention to Iowa State vs. Houston men’s basketball today
This is solely the 0.33 time in Iowa State records that the Cyclones have been worried in a street sport involving two top-10 groups (the others: losses to Kansas in 1957 and 1997).
Any way you slice it, this is one of Iowa State’s largest regular-season video games in software history.
Randy Peterson:Let’s put Iowa State basketball’s Big Monday sport at Houston into perspective
The Cyclones’ 82-74 victory towards Texas Tech on Saturday, coupled with Houston’s 82-61 win at domestic in opposition to Texas, has given us a matchup that opponents any Big Monday the Cyclones have been a phase of.
The Register has columnist Randy Peterson on website online at the Fertitta Center in Houston. This is Randy’s 1/3 avenue recreation in the Lone Star State this month; he additionally included the Feb. three loss at Baylor and the Feb. 6 victory at Texas.
Follow the motion right here as we furnish updates and evaluation in the course of the sport from Iowa State vs. Houston.
Halftime: Houston 28, Iowa State 23
Iowa State instruct T.J. Otzelberger used to be fired up after his Cyclones held the Cougars scoreless on the final possession of the half. Iowa State trails via just 5 factors and Otzelberger has to sense desirable about the place his crew is at in spite of capturing 33% from the flooring and getting simply three free throws (Houston shot 15).
BIG 3-pointer with the aid of Curt Jones with 33 seconds left in the half of reduce the deficit to 28-23. Jones has each of ISU’s 3-pointers tonight.
First half, 1:40 mark: Houston 26, Iowa State 20
Defense by no means takes a day off, particularly when the officers permit lots of contact. And protection is retaining Iowa State in this game. Milan Momcilovic, too (7 points). Cyclones are in top form and proper in this game.
Free throws: Houston 15, Iowa State 3
First half, 3:15 mark: Houston 24, Iowa State 16
Hello, Milan Momcilovic! The freshman from Wisconsin had a large 3-point play — a 15-footer + 1 — to get Iowa State inside 22-14. Then he hit any other jumper on the subsequent possession. Cyclones want him to get warm and remain hot.
If you love protection and bodily play, this is the recreation for you. So a ways the Cyclones and Cougars have blended for 15 area dreams and 14 turnovers.
First half, 7:10 mark: Houston 19, Iowa State 8
Kelvin Sampson’s crew seems poised to avenge its Jan. nine loss in Ames. The Cyclones notched a 57-53 victory that night. Iowa State has some work to do, in particular on the offensive end.
ESPN’s Fran Fraschilla is right: Iowa State wishes to force tough to the basket and attempt to get Houston into foul trouble. Easier stated than done, however in all likelihood a higher approach than heaving up 3-pointers when they’re no longer falling (0-for-6).
(Although tonight’s refs show up to be content material swallowing their whistles except they see blood. At least when ISU has the ball. Free throws: Houston 10, Iowa State 0.)
Houston has gained 19 in a row at home, the nation’s longest domestic triumphing streak. The Fertitta Center is solely about 1/2 the dimension of Hilton Coliseum, however it does get loud in there.
T.J. Otzelberger’s group simply has to proceed to battle, strive to preserve that margin inside single digits at halftime and see what happens. Maybe these photographs that are not falling now (4-for-17 from the floor) will begin going thru the internet later on.
First half, 12:00 mark: Houston 11, Iowa State 4
Points are going to be challenging to come by, it appears. Iowa State is 2-for-8 from the floor. Houston is 5-for-13. The groups are a blended 1-for-9 from 3-point vary and they have 9 turnovers between them.
Tre King scored the Cyclones’ 2d basket on a nifty aid from Keshon Gilbert.
Side note: Remember when refs used to name a technical foul for putting on the rim?
First half, 15:55 mark: Houston 5, Iowa State 2
The domestic group has a little greater leap in its step in the early going. But actual to form, now not a good deal offense and a lot of protection so far. Rob Jones with a steal and then ending with an athletic cross to get the Cyclones on the board. Emanuel Sharp has a two and a three for Houston.
8:00 p.m.: Tip-off soon
As usual, the scheduled tip-off time used to be simply a rumor. Looks like we will get commenced round 8:07.
A pregame word per ESPN: Iowa State is seventh in the united states of america in factors per recreation allowed. Houston ranks first in that category.
So count on a low-scoring game, obviously. Over/under is 133 per DraftKings, which feels a little high, actually.
Iowa State is an 8-point underdog at tip-off.
Boog Sciambi and Fran Fraschilla on the call. One of our favored broadcasting tandems.