AMES, Iowa – In a surprising turn of events, the Iowa State Cyclones upset the second-ranked Houston Cougars 57-53 on Tuesday, marking the last undefeated team in college basketball’s first loss of the season. The Cyclones made a strong statement by defeating Houston and bouncing back from their recent loss to Oklahoma over the weekend.

Iowa State’s Tamin Lipsey led the team with 14 points, while freshman Milan Momcilovic continued his strong performance with 11 points. The Cyclones capitalized on Houston’s uncharacteristic 16 turnovers to secure the victory and hand the Cougars their first loss as a member of the Big 12 conference.

The game started with Iowa State taking a commanding 14-0 lead, putting Houston in a difficult position to play catch-up throughout the game. Despite strong performances from Houston’s guards Jamal Shead and Emanuel Sharp, the team’s 17 turnovers and poor 3-point shooting contributed to their defeat.

Iowa State’s victory over Houston adds to their impressive record of 14 home wins over top-10 teams since 2011-12, the second-most in Division I. The win also signifies their seventh victory against a top-10 opponent since the start of the 2022-23 season, the highest in Division I.

The game also highlighted the competitive nature of the Big 12 conference, as Houston faces new challenges in a more competitive environment compared to their previous league. Additionally, Iowa State showcased their strong defensive capabilities, ranking third in adjusted efficiency ratings and demonstrating their ability to force turnovers and apply defensive pressure on their opponents.

With the defeat of Houston, the college basketball season no longer has any undefeated teams, marking the end of the possibility of an undefeated national champion for this season. This trend continues the pattern of the last undefeated team suffering their first loss relatively early in the season, emphasizing the competitiveness of collegiate basketball.