The No. 2 Houston Cougars and No. 6 Iowa State Cyclones are currently locked in a high-stakes Big 12 battle at Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa. This “Big Monday” matchup features two of the nation’s premier defensive units and carries significant implications for the conference regular-season title and NCAA Tournament seeding.
Live Game Status: 16 February 2026
As of the latest updates from the first half, the game has been a back-and-forth affair. Houston initially took a 26-21 lead with 7:50 remaining in the half, but Iowa State responded with a surge to keep the score tight. Recent reports indicate a 33-30 lead for Iowa State at the under-4-minute media timeout, following a 15-point turnaround sparked by Houston’s Emanuel Sharp and Milos Uzan.
Matchup Overview
- Rankings: Houston (No. 2 AP) vs. Iowa State (No. 6 AP).
- Records: Houston enters at 23-2 (11-1 Big 12); Iowa State enters at 22-3 (9-3 Big 12).
- Venue: Hilton Coliseum, Ames, Iowa (Capacity: 14,267).
- Home Dominance: The Cyclones entered tonight’s contest with a perfect 14-0 record at home this season.
Key Players to Watch
Houston relies heavily on the defensive schemes of Kelvin Sampson and the scoring of Emanuel Sharp, who is coming off a 23-point performance against Kansas State. Iowa State counters with freshman standout Milan Momcilovic and a deep offensive rotation that averages 9.0 three-pointers per game. The Cyclones’ ability to push the pace against Houston’s methodical, top-ranked defence is expected to decide the final outcome.
Betting Odds & Predictions
Leading into tip-off, oddsmakers established Iowa State as a slight 2.5-point favourite at home, with the point total set at 134.5. While advanced models from SportsLine and Dimers suggested a narrow Iowa State victory (projected 71-68), many analysts backed Houston to cover the spread as road underdogs due to their 17-2 record against opponents with winning records this season.
Historical Context
Entering tonight, Iowa State held a 3-1 all-time record against Houston in Ames. However, the Cougars have dominated recent head-to-head meetings, including a 69-41 victory in March 2024. This is only the second time these programs have met at Hilton Coliseum since Houston joined the Big 12 Conference.