Completed Event: Men's Basketball versus Syracuse on November 26, 2025 , Win , 95, to, 64
Final
Men's Basketball
95
Syracuse
64
Iowa State University Athletics
Monday, January 18
Ames, Iowa
8:00 PM
Iowa State
14-4, 3-3
82
vs
77
Oklahoma
15-2, 4-2
1
2
F
Oklahoma
35
42
77
Iowa State
41
41
82
Cyclones Dethrone No. 1 Oklahoma, 82-77
01.18.2016 | Men's Basketball
AMES, Iowa – Hilton Magic did it again. For just the second time in school history Iowa State (14-4, 3-3 Big 12) defeated the nation's No. 1-rated team, downing top-rated Oklahoma (15-2, 4-2 Big 12), 82-77 in a back-and-forth classic Monday night in Hilton Coliseum.
In a game which featured 18 ties and lead changes, Iowa State made the big shots down the stretch, including a jumper from Monte' Morris with :19 seconds left to give the Cyclones the lead for good at 79-77. Morris scored 20 points and had assistance from Georges Niang and Abdel Nader, who poured in 22 and 20 points, respectively.
The only other time the Cyclones won a game vs. the nation's top-rated team was on Jan. 14, 1957 when ISU downed No. 1 Kansas, 39-37 on Don Medsker's buzzer beater.
ISU had to stave off an outstanding shooting effort by the Sooners, who drained 17 3-pointers, including seven from Buddy Hield. Hield finished the game with 27 points. The Cyclones countered OU's 3-point prowess by outrebounding the Sooners, 43-32 and converting 38 points in the paint to OU's 18.
How it Happened
Oklahoma took an early lead (15-12) thanks to Hield connecting on 3-of-4 from 3-point range in the first six minutes of the contest. The Cyclones shot poorly out of the gates, making just 2-of-11 shots.
Despite its poor start, Iowa State hung close, re-taking the lead (17-16) at the 11:11 mark behind a corner trey from Matt Thomas.
There were seven ties and lead changes in the next five minutes, as the game was knotted at 27-27 with 6:32 left before intermission.
After OU took a 31-27 lead, ISU rattled off nine-straight points to go up 36-31 with 2:15 left before the break. Niang had seven points during the run. ISU led 41-35 at the half, as Niang scored 10 of ISU's final 12 points.
ISU increased its lead to 10 points (48-38) when Thomas buried a 3-pointer in the early part of the second half.
Back-to-back 3-pointers by Dante Buford and Hield cut the ISU lead to 52-49, but Thomas hit another trey to stop the run and push the Cyclone lead to 55-49 with 13:49 left in the game.
A 10-2 run by OU gave the Sooners their first lead of the second half at 59-57 at the 9:01 mark. Isaiah Cousins made two baskets and Buford buried a deep trey as the shot clock was winding down to push OU out in front.
ISU bounced right back, scoring 10-straight points to go up 67-59 with six minutes left. Niang hit two treys in the run. But OU came roaring back to knot the score at 67-67 with eight consecutive points, as Hield drilled back-to-back 3-pointers.
Hield then gave OU the lead with his seventh trey to make it 70-68 OU with 3:07 left in the contest. The game was tied at 75-75 until Morris hit a pullup jumper with 0:19 seconds left.
On OU's next possession, the Sooners had two chances, but misfired on both and Morris corralled the rebound. He was immediately fouled with 0:09 seconds left. He sank both free-throws, but Cousins quickly scored a layup with 0:04 seconds remaining to trim the ISU lead to 79-77.
ISU then iced the game by making its final three shots at the foul line.
Cyclone of Note: Monte' Morris. It was hard to pick a player of the game, but Morris' jumper with :19 seconds left was the biggest of the night. OU had just tied the game and the junior ignited the crowd with his timely bucket. He then made a pair of free-throws with 0:09 seconds left to give ISU a four-point lead. He finished the game with 20 points, his sixth 20-point game of his career, seven rebounds and three assists.
Cyclone Quick Hits
*Iowa State recorded its 20th victory over a ranked opponent in the last three season, tying for best in the nation.
*ISU's second win over a ranked opponent this season (Cincinnati).
*Georges Niang now has a school record 89 career wins.
*Tonight's victory is just the second win over a No. 1-ranked team in school history (2-17 all-time). The only other win was against Kansas on Jan. 14, 1957.
*Niang made his 109th career start, tying Jeff Hornacek at No. 8 on ISU's all-time list.
*Niang scored 22 points, his 98th career double-digit scoring game and his 30th game of 20 points or more.
*Niang has scored in double figures in 27-straight games.
*Matt Thomas hit three 3-pointers, his seventh game this season with three or more treys.
*Jameel McKay had 13 boards, the eighth double-digit rebounding effort of the season.
*McKay also had four blocks.
Up Next
Iowa State travels to TCU (Jan. 23) on Saturday. Tipoff is set for 3 p.m. on ESPNU.
Team Stats
OU
ISU
FG%
.424
.469
3FG%
.531
.381
FT%
.571
.824
RB
32
43
TO
9
9
STL
3
2
Game Leaders
Pts
22
FGM
9
3FGM
4
FTM
0
Pts
20
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
10
Pts
20
FGM
8
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
F
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