Nate Heise’s late 3 lifts Iowa State past No. 2 Houston, 70-67 in Ames
A late Iowa State rally flips a Big 12 heavyweight matchup
No. 6 Iowa State erased a double-digit second-half deficit Monday night, closing on a 17-4 run to defeat No. 2 Houston 70-67 at Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa. The result snapped Houston’s six-game winning streak and tightened the top of the Big 12 standings as the regular season moves into its final stretch.
Houston entered the night as the league leader at 11-1 in conference play, while Iowa State was positioned as a top-tier challenger. With the win, both teams moved to 23-3 overall, and Houston’s conference advantage narrowed.
Defining sequence: Heise’s corner 3 and Houston’s empty possessions
The decisive play came with 1:17 remaining, when Iowa State guard Nate Heise drilled a go-ahead 3-pointer from the left corner to give the Cyclones a 69-67 lead. Houston had opportunities to respond but came up empty on its next trips, including a shot-clock violation with 43 seconds left and a missed attempt in the final seconds.
Iowa State did not coast to the finish. After Houston’s final miss, the Cyclones missed the front end of a one-and-one, opening the door to a potential Houston push. Instead, guard Tamin Lipsey secured a critical offensive rebound, and Joshua Jefferson was fouled with one second left. Jefferson’s free throw provided the final margin.
Key contributors and game context
Heise finished with 11 points and was 3-for-3 from 3-point range, supplying timely perimeter scoring during the comeback.
Jefferson led Iowa State with 12 points, while Blake Buchanan added 10.
For Houston, Kingston Flemings scored a game-high 22 points. Emanuel Sharp added 16 points, all in the first half, and Milos Uzan scored 11.
The matchup also underscored contrasting late-game execution. Houston’s offense stalled in the closing minutes, while Iowa State generated quality looks and converted a high-leverage shot from the perimeter. Iowa State’s rally also followed another high-profile win days earlier, underscoring the Cyclones’ recent momentum against elite competition.
What it means going forward
The outcome reshapes the immediate Big 12 race at the top, with Houston’s lead reduced and Iowa State remaining within striking distance. Houston’s next conference test is at home against No. 4 Arizona on Saturday, a game with direct implications for first place. Iowa State travels to face No. 23 BYU on Saturday, continuing a stretch of ranked opponents that will further clarify the league’s pecking order ahead of postseason play.
The final two minutes featured multiple possession swings—one made 3, one offensive rebound, and two empty Houston trips—turning a narrow contest into a statement win for Iowa State.