Iowa State Stuns #2 Houston With Late 3-Pointer Rally
Iowa State pulled off a thrilling comeback Monday night, defeating second-ranked Houston 70-67 after trailing late in the game. Nate Heise hit the go-ahead three-pointer with just over a minute left, leading the Cyclones to their second top-10 win in three days.
Iowa State just proved that momentum is real, rallying from behind to topple the second-ranked team in the country on their home court.
The sixth-ranked Cyclones stunned Houston 70-67 Monday night in Ames, Iowa, closing the game with a massive 17-4 run. Nate Heise drilled the decisive three-pointer from the left corner with 1:17 remaining, giving Iowa State a lead they wouldn't surrender.
The victory marked Iowa State's second giant-slaying performance in just three days. The Cyclones had defeated eighth-ranked Kansas 74-56 on Saturday, making this stretch one of the most impressive in their recent history.
Heise finished with 11 points and went a perfect 3-for-3 from beyond the arc. His sister Taylor made it a family celebration, scoring earlier that day to help Team USA beat Sweden 5-0 in Olympic hockey, advancing to the gold medal game in Milan.
"Of all the games from him as a Cyclone, tonight stands out as the one that was most elite," Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger said about Heise's performance. "The confidence he's playing with is awesome."
The final minute featured clutch plays across the board. After Heise's three-pointer, Houston had two chances to tie or retake the lead but came up empty, including a shot clock violation with 43 seconds remaining.
Tamin Lipsey secured the win with a critical offensive rebound in the final seconds, tapping the ball to Joshua Jefferson, who sealed it at the free-throw line. Jefferson led Iowa State with 12 points.
Why This Inspires
This game showcased everything great about college basketball: a packed home arena, underdogs refusing to quit, and players rising to the moment when it mattered most. Iowa State now sits just one game behind Houston in the Big 12 standings with a 23-3 record.
The Cyclones proved that rankings don't determine outcomes when teams play with heart and execute under pressure. Even Houston coach Kelvin Sampson acknowledged the special atmosphere: "Iowa State's good. It's not an easy place to come in and win."
Two top-10 wins in three days has Iowa State trending at exactly the right time.
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Based on reporting by ESPN
This story was written by BrightWire based on verified news reports.
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