Cincinnati Stuns No. 2 Iowa State in 79-70 Upset
A hard-fought victory for the Cincinnati Bearcats, who overcame a challenging start to the Big 12 season with a decisive 79-70 win over the No. 2 ranked Iowa State Cyclones on Saturday. The win marks Cincinnati’s first victory over a top-10 opponent since 2012 and halts Iowa State’s impressive 16-game winning streak.
Iowa State’s First Blemish
The Cyclones (16-2, 3-2 Big 12) entered Saturday’s contest looking to continue their dominant run after a recent 84-63 loss to Kansas on Tuesday. However, a determined Cincinnati squad proved too much to handle. Milan Momcilovic led Iowa State with a career-high 34 points, fueled by eight successful 3-pointers, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Cincinnati’s relentless pressure.
Bearcats Force Turnovers, Take Control
Cincinnati’s defense proved pivotal, forcing 12 turnovers that translated into 20 crucial points. The Bearcats capitalized on these opportunities, building a lead as large as 17 points. “A desperate Cincinnati team made things difficult,” one analyst noted, highlighting the Bearcats’ intensity. This victory comes after a rocky start to conference play for Cincinnati, which began the season 0-3 within the Big 12.
Historic Loss for Iowa State
Iowa State’s consecutive losses are a rare occurrence for the program. According to ESPN Research, the Cyclones are just the fourth team in Big 12 history to begin the season with at least 15 wins before suffering back-to-back defeats. The loss undoubtedly stings for a team that had established itself as a national powerhouse.
Cincinnati’s Balanced Attack
Day Day Thomas paced the Bearcats with 19 points, while Jizzle James added 15 and Sencire Harris and Jalen Celestine each contributed 12. Celestine’s early shooting prowess, including three consecutive 3-pointers, ignited the Cincinnati offense, giving them an early 16-8 advantage. Thomas later extended the lead with a 3-pointer, pushing the score to 19-8. Cincinnati finished the first half shooting efficiently from beyond the arc, making six 3-pointers, including one from Moustapha Thiam that established a 35-24 lead.
Second-Half Surge and Cyclones’ Response
Iowa State, typically a strong 3-point shooting team, struggled early, making only one of their first seven attempts. They finished the game shooting 9-of-21 from three, with Momcilovic accounting for eight of those makes. A late first-half 3-pointer from Momcilovic helped the Cyclones close the gap to 35-31 at halftime.
The second half saw a brief tie at 38 after a layup by Joshua Jefferson, who finished with 16 points. However, Cincinnati responded with an 11-0 run, fueled by Thomas’s scoring, including a 3-pointer and a midrange jumper, extending their lead to 54-42. Thomas’s third 3-pointer of the night pushed the advantage to 67-50.
Iowa State mounted a late comeback attempt, going on a 14-2 run, with Momcilovic scoring nine points to narrow the deficit to 69-64 with 4:38 remaining. Despite the Cyclones’ push, Cincinnati held firm, securing the 79-70 victory.
The Cincinnati faithful celebrated the win by storming the court, a testament to the significance of the victory for the program. The Bearcats (10-8, 2-3) have now won two straight games, signaling a potential turning point in their season.
