- Matchup: Houston Cougars vs Iowa State Cyclones
- Date: February 16, 2026, Monday
- Venue: Hilton Coliseum, Ames, IA
- Broadcast: ESPN
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The Iowa State Cyclones (21-3) will face off against the Houston Cougars (22-2) at Hilton Coliseum this coming Monday.
In their latest matchup, the Houston Cougars triumphed over Utah, winning 66-52. Houston recorded a field goal percentage of 43.3% (26 of 60) and succeeded in 9 out of 26 attempts from beyond the arc. From the free-throw line, the Cougars converted 5 of 10 shots for a 50.0% accuracy. On the boards, they secured 29 rebounds, including 11 offensive ones. The team also delivered 8 assists while committing 11 turnovers and snatching 7 steals. Defensively, Houston permitted Utah to shoot 44.4% from the field, with the opponents making 20 of 45 attempts. Utah finished with 13 assists and 4 steals, and gathered a total of 23 rebounds (3 offensive, 20 defensive), but recorded no blocks. Utah shot 71.4% from the free-throw line, making 10 of 14 attempts, and struggled with 2 successful 3-pointers out of 17 attempts. The Cougars logged 15 personal fouls, compared to Utah’s 9.
Emanuel Sharp emerged as a key contributor in this game, showcasing a shooting accuracy of 52.9% from the field. He played 31 minutes, collecting 3 rebounds and notching up 27 points on 9 out of 17 shooting efforts.
The Houston Cougars boast an impressive record of 22-2 this season. They average 78.3 points per game (132nd in Division 1) and shoot 45.5% from the field. From three-point range, Houston connects at 34.1% (213 of 625) and achieves 77.3% from the free-throw line. The team averages 36.8 rebounds per game and has accumulated 366 assists this season, ranking 146th in Division 1 for assists. They have a commendable turnover rate of 8.0 per game while accumulating 18.1 fouls on average.
Defensively, the Cougars force an average of 14.6 turnovers per match while drawing 15.8 fouls. They rank 20th in D-1 for assists allowed, having conceded 264 assists this season. Houston’s defense holds opponents to a shooting percentage of 39.5% (488 of 1,235) and averages 33.3 rebounds per game. They limit opponents to 31.1% from three-point range and are ranked 2nd in Division 1 for points allowed per game (61.2).
In their most recent game, the Iowa State Cyclones fell to TCU, with a final score of 62-55. The Cyclones allowed TCU a total of 35 rebounds (9 offensive). Iowa State shot only 27.8% from three-point range by making 5 out of 18 attempts and had a free-throw performance of 15 out of 23 (65.2%). TCU managed to score on 21 of 52 field-goal attempts, resulting in a shooting percentage of 40.4%. Iowa State, concluding the game with a shooting rate of 41.4%, made 24 out of 58 shots and sunk 5 out of their 22 three-point attempts (22.7%). They received 8 free-throw opportunities due to TCU’s 13 fouls and committed 15 turnovers while earning 8 steals in the contest. Iowa State secured 20 defensive rebounds and 10 offensive ones for a total of 30 boards in this matchup.
Joshua Jefferson significantly contributed for Iowa State, making 5 of 15 shots for a shooting percentage of 33.3%. He also secured 9 rebounds, earning 12 points in 38 minutes of play while providing 9 assists.
This season, Iowa State boasts a record of 21-3. Offensively, they are shooting 50.9% from the floor, ranking 12th in the nation. The Cyclones have amassed 2,031 points this season (averaging 84.6 points per game) and collect 36.7 rebounds each game. They average 18.5 assists, ranking 13th nationally, while committing 11.0 turnovers per game. Iowa State averages 15.5 fouls and shoots 67.7% from the free-throw line.
On defense, the Cyclones rank 15th in D-1 for points allowed per game (64.9). They force 15.5 turnovers per game and restrict opponents to a shooting percentage of 41.8% (67th nationally). Iowa State permits opponents to shoot 31.7% from beyond the arc (180 of 568) and allows a conversion of 70.3% from the free-throw line. They concede an average of 12.8 assists and 29.9 rebounds per game, ranking 125th and 11th in college basketball, respectively.
Which team will emerge victorious in tonight’s NCAA game against the spread?
Prediction: Bet on Iowa State
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