PRIMER: No. 4 Iowa State vs. No. 16 Texas Tech

Who: Iowa State (23-4, 11-4 Big 12) vs. Texas Tech (21-7, 11-4 Big 12)

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

When: Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026 – 3 p.m. CT

Watch: CBS // Spero Dedes (PxP) & Jim Spanarkel (Analyst)

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

Tipping Off: After splitting its Utah trip, Iowa State is back in action at Hilton Coliseum as it hosts Texas Tech in its penultimate home contest of the season. Texas Tech is the fourth ranked opponent in the last five games for ISU.

The Cyclones salvaged their mountain trip last time out, defeating Utah in the team's first-ever trip to the Huntsman Center. Joshua Jefferson had his third 20-point contest of Big 12 play in the win.

TTU has dominated in its last two outings, defeating both K-State and Cincinnati. The Red Raiders are tied with Iowa State, Kansas and Houston for second place in the Big 12 standings with three regular-season games to go.

Storylines:

At No. 4 in the AP Top 25 Poll, Iowa State has been ranked in the AP Top 25 for 48 straight weeks, the fifth-longest streak in the nation. It is the second-longest streak in the Big 12 behind Houston's 122, 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 30 weeks.
In five seasons under Coach Otzelberger, the Cyclones have been known for their defense, as they have ranked as a top-15 unit in the country each year, and 2025-26 is no different (according to KenPom defensive rating).
The Cyclones had three players named to the Naismith Starting Five Midseason Top 10 Watch lists – Tamin Lipsey, Milan Momcilovic and Joshua Jefferson.
Joshua Jefferson has recorded two triple-doubles this season, tied for the most in the country.
- Jefferson became the first player in program history to have multiple triple-doubles in a career.
- He is just the third Big 12 player with multiple triple-doubles, but is the first to accomplish both in conference games.
Milan Momcilovic has been the nation's best marksman this season, as the junior leads the country in 3-point percentage.
- Momcilovic has six 25-plus point games so far this season for ISU.
Tamin Lipsey holds the most steals in program history and is in the top three in Big 12 history for career steals.
- He holds the most wins against Big 12 opponents by any active player.

From the Notes:

As a head coach, Otz is 218-112 overall and has guided the Cyclones to a 119-49 record over the last four years.
- He earned his 100th win at Iowa State against HOF coach Rick Pitino and No. 14 St. John's in the Players Era Championship opener on Nov. 24.
  - He was the quickest coach in school history to 100 career wins, doing so in 145 games.
- He then earned his 200th win over his mentor and former head coach Greg McDermott on Nov. 25.
- His 118 wins are the most in the first five years in ISU history.
- Otz is the quickest coach in school history to 100 career wins, doing so in 145 games.
With its home win over No. 2 Houston, Iowa State now has 29 wins over top 25 teams since Otzelberger took over (2021-22). That is the fifth-most in the nation during that stretch.
Otz has led Iowa State to four 20-plus win seasons, joining Orr (5) and Hoiberg (4) as the only ISU coaches to do so four-plus times.
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 postseason appearances, 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.
As of Thursday, the Cyclones are ranked No. 8 in the NET. Iowa State slots in at No. 8 in the KenPom rankings and is No. 7 in ESPN's Basketball Power Index.

Switching Sides:

This will be the 47th all-time meeting between Iowa State and Texas Tech. ISU leads the all-time series, 24-22, and has won three of the last four.
- The Cyclones are 16-6 at home against the Red Raiders.
Like Milan Momcilovic, Texas Tech's Donovan Atwell set TTU's single-season 3-point record this season.
- Both enter the contest with 104 made triples, are tied for the second-most makes in the country and average 3.71 3-pointers a game.
Texas Tech lost 2024-25 Big 12 Player of the Year JT Toppin to a season-ending injury on Feb. 17. At the time, Toppin led the country in field goals (226) and was Top 10 in double-doubles (16), rebounds per game (10.8), and points per game (21.8).
- Toppin, along with teammate Christian Anderson, was named to the Wooden Award Top 20. They were the only teammates to make the list.
The Red Raiders were picked to finish third in the preseason conference poll, a year after finishing second with a 15-5 record.
Texas Tech Head Coach Grant McCasland is in his third year at the helm of the Red Raider program. McCasland is 72-27 with TTU and is 283-116 overall in his 12-year head coaching career, which began at D-II Midwestern State and includes stops at both Arkansas State and North Texas.
- McCasland has led Tech to the NCAA Tournament in each of his first two seasons. Last year, the Red Raiders finished 28-9, earned a No. 3 seed and advanced to the Elite Eight for the third time ever.
As of Thursday, the Red Raiders are ranked No. 15 in the NET. The Cougars are No. 16 in KenPom and No. 18 in ESPN's Basketball Power Index.

PRIMER: No. 4 Iowa State vs. No. 16 Texas Tech

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PRIMER: No. 4 Iowa State vs. No. 16 Texas Tech

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