Preview of Iowa vs. Iowa State Men’s Basketball: Cy-Hawk Rivalry: Battle of the Undefeated The Iowa Hawkeyes (8-1) will travel to Ames to play the undefeated Iowa State Cyclones (9-0) at Hilton Coliseum on Thursday at 7 p.m., setting up one of the most anticipated games in Iowa college basketball this season. Fans can watch the action via FS1 Livestream or local radio through affiliates of Hawkeye Radio Network and Cyclone Radio Network. Kevin Kugler and Miles Simon will be on the call during the game’s broadcast on FS1.
The Cy-Hawk rivalry has long been among the most intense in college basketball, and there will be a lot of drama in this year’s game. Iowa State enters this game with a lot of confidence following a decisive victory over No. 1 Purdue last Saturday in West Lafayette. Iowa currently leads the all-time series 48–30. Purdue’s first non-conference home loss since 2019 and their second-worst non-conference loss at Mackey Arena were both caused by the Cyclones’ shocking 81-58 victory.
Iowa State’s strong start to the season has been largely attributed to their offensive balance. Against Purdue, they shot an outstanding 54.1 percent from the field, including 11 of 23 from beyond the arc. One of four starters to score in double figures that evening was forward Milan Momcilovic, who led the way with 20 points. With an average of 18.3 points per game, Momcilovic leads the Cyclones in scoring this season. Forward Joshua Jefferson is not far behind with 17.6 points per game. The team has a potent, well-rounded attack that is difficult to stop because all four of their starters average double-digit points.
Another important contributor is freshman guard Killyan Toure, who scores 12 points a game and offers energy and versatility off the bench. After missing three games due to injury, point guard Tamin Lipsey made an instant impact against Purdue, scoring nine points, dishing out eight assists, and pulling down five rebounds in 31 minutes. “When Tamin Lipsey has been out because of an injury, he does such a good job of staying involved, engaged in what the team is doing,” said Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger, praising Lipsey’s dedication during his time off the court. This enables him to return without any problems.
In contrast, the Hawkeyes recently defeated Maryland 83-64 at home to tie their Big Ten Conference record at 1-1. That victory came after Iowa’s first real road game of the season, a 72-51 loss at Michigan State. Coach Ben McCollum anticipates that his team will learn from the setback. “I believe that part of the problem stems from how we, including our staff, handled the preparation phase—making sure you don’t overthink it.” We are often able to control games fairly well, so you have to grasp the game. However, that calls for dialogue. “You have to learn how to adapt when you can’t communicate,” McCollum stated. In retrospect, we had a solid strategy against Michigan State; we simply failed to carry it out. For this one, that is what needs to be fixed.
With senior point guard Bennett Stirtz leading the team at 18.8 points per game, Iowa hasn’t had the same offensive balance as the Cyclones this season. Four Hawkeyes scored in double figures during the Maryland game, though, giving an indication of a deeper offensive rotation. Both freshman guard Tate Sage and forward Cam Manyawu scored 12 points, with Sage providing a spark after coming off the bench. Cooper Koch, a forward, contributed 11 points and three 3-pointers, suggesting that Iowa may be able to contend with Iowa State’s balanced scoring.
An intriguing contrast of styles is promised by the matchup. While Iowa primarily relies on Stirtz but has demonstrated flashes of supporting contributions from a number of players, Iowa State has a deep, well-rounded attack. Both teams are confident going into the game, but Iowa State wants to avoid any hangover from Purdue, while Iowa wants to bounce back from its road loss with a better performance in a hostile setting.
In the future, Iowa State will host Eastern Illinois at noon on ESPN+, while Iowa will return home on Sunday to play Western Michigan at 2 p.m. on the Big Ten Network. However, the Cy-Hawk rivalry is the main attraction for Ames supporters on Thursday night. Expect a fast-paced, high-intensity game full of momentum swings, big shots, and the kind of drama that makes Iowa college basketball so captivating because both teams are skilled, driven, and ready to prove themselves.
This game is more than just a rivalry; it’s a statement as the Hawkeyes seek to turn things around following last week’s difficult road setback and the Cyclones attempt to prolong their perfect start. One thing is certain: Thursday night will be must-watch basketball, and fans on both teams are waiting down the seconds until tipoff, regardless of Iowa State’s offensive depth or Iowa’s tenacity and surging skill.
