PRIMER: No. 16 Iowa State vs. Northwestern (exh.)

Who: Iowa State (0-0, 0-0 Big 12) vs. Northwestern (0-0, 0-0 Big Ten)

Where: Hilton Coliseum (14,267) – Ames, Iowa

When: Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025 – 12 p.m. CT

Watch: ESPN+ // Alex Cohen (PxP) & Derrin Hansen (Analyst)

Listen: Cyclone Radio Network // John Walters (PxP) & Eric Heft (Analyst)

Tipping Off: No. 16 Iowa State will play its second public exhibition game against Northwestern Sunday afternoon in Hilton Coliseum. This marks the first season that ISU has played two exhibition contests since 2009 when the Cyclones downed both Black Hills State and UNC Pembroke.

In Iowa State's first exhibition at No. 23 Creighton, seven Cyclones made their unofficial debut in the cardinal and gold. Joshua Jefferson led the way for ISU, scoring 18 and pulling down 12 boards. Virginia transfer Blake Buchanan had eight points and seven boards, while both Dominick Nelson (9 points) and Killyan Toure (7 points, 4 rebounds) also impressed.

Northwestern will look to integrate eight newcomers into the fold in its first exhibition of the season. Outside of big man Nick Martinelli, who led the Big Ten in scoring last season, Coach Collins will look to establish the rotation in what appears to be a deep team. Northwestern will look to measure itself early in the year and make a return to the NCAA Tournament after missing last year's.

Storylines:

At No. 16 in the AP Top 25 Preseason Poll, Iowa State has been ranked in the AP Top 25 for 33-straight weeks, the seventh-longest streak in the nation. It is the second-longest streak in the Big 12 behind Houston's 107, which is the longest streak in the country. The Cyclones and Cougars are the only two Big 12 schools to have streaks of at least 15 weeks.
Last season, Iowa State Head Coach T.J. Otzelberger picked up his 25th victory over an AP Top 25 team at Iowa State, passing Johnny Orr for the most in program history. He also earned his fifth NCAA Tournament victory, the most in school history.
- His .679 overall winning percentage and .568 conference winning percentage are both the best in school history.
ISU earned four ranked victories last year, tied for the 10th-most in program history.
Joshua Jefferson tallied 454 points, 259 rebounds, 109 assists, 74 steals and 26 blocks last season. He was the only player in the country with those numbers last season and the 11th since 1974-75 to do so. No player in Big 12 history has ever done it in a season.
Lipsey is averaging 10.2 points, 4.2 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game in his career. He is one of 26 players since 1947-48 to average those numbers in a career while playing at least 100 games. He is one of just 10 from a Power 5 Conference to do so.
- His 237 career steals are the most in program history and the eighth-most in Big 12 history.

From the Notes:

As a head coach, Otz is 194-108 overall and has guided the Cyclones to a 95-45 record over the last four years.
- Otzelberger's 95 wins through his first four seasons are the most in program history.
Coach Otzelberger is the only Iowa State men's basketball coach to take multiple teams to the Sweet 16.
- He was the 51st coach in NCAA Division I history to take a team to the Sweet 16 twice in his first three years on the job.
- In four years, Otzelberger has five NCAA Tournament wins – the most by any coach in program history.
Otz currently holds the school's highest winning percentage by a head coach.
Experience won't be lacking for the Cyclones this year. Four of Iowa State's five returners started games for the Cyclones last year, including three who were full-time starters all year. In addition, eight of the 14 players on ISU's roster have at least 22 career starts.
The Cyclones finished last season ranked No. 12 in the NET. Iowa State slotted in at No. 11 in the KenPom rankings and is No. 7 in ESPN's Basketball Power Index.

Switching Sides:

The Cyclones and Wildcats have met just twice in the schools' history with the last meeting coming in Chicago back in 2009.
- ISU is 1-1 all-time against Northwestern in regular season play with the lone win coming in the Armory back in 1949.
Sunday's meeting between the Cyclones and Wildcats is the first in a home and home exhibition game, as the two teams will meet in Evanston, Ill. in Oct. 2026.
Northwestern loses 2025 second round draft pick Brooks Barnhizer who was selected by the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder. Barnhizer became the first Wildcat drafted into the NBA since Evan Eschmeyer in 1999.
The Wildcats were picked to finish 15th out of 18 in the Big Ten Preseason Poll - that's where the team finished in 2024-25.
Northwestern head coach Chris Collins is in his 12th season at the helm of the Wildcat basketball program. Collins is 194-190 during his time in Evanston.
- The 2022-23 Big Ten Coach of the Year, Coach Collins has guided Northwestern men's basketball to new heights over his 12 years, appearing in the 2017, 2023 and 2024 NCAA Tournaments, the only NCAA appearances in program history.
- He also has the second-most wins in school history.
Northwestern finished last season ranked No. 53 in the NET. The Wildcats were No. 44 in KenPom and No. 44 in ESPN's Basketball Power Index.

PRIMER: No. 16 Iowa State vs. Northwestern (exh.)

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Players Mentioned

Blake Buchanan

Joshua Jefferson

Dominick Nelson

Killyan Toure

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Iowa State University Athletics

PRIMER: No. 16 Iowa State vs. Northwestern (exh.)

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Blake Buchanan

Joshua Jefferson

Dominick Nelson

Killyan Toure

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