2025–26 Iowa State Cyclones men's basketball team

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The 2025–26 Iowa State Cyclones men's basketball team represented Iowa State University during the 2025–26 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Cyclones were led by T. J. Otzelberger in his fifth season as head coach. They played their home games at Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa as members of the Big 12 Conference.

ConferenceBig 12 Conference
CoachesNo. 8
APNo. 8
Record29–8 (12–6 Big 12)
Quick facts Iowa State Cyclones men's basketball, NCAA tournament, Sweet Sixteen ...
2025–26 Iowa State Cyclones men's basketball
NCAA tournament, Sweet Sixteen
ConferenceBig 12 Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 8
APNo. 8
Record29–8 (12–6 Big 12)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Home arenaHilton Coliseum
Seasons
← 2024–25
2026–27 →
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More information Conf., Overall ...
2025–26 Big 12 men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
No. 3 Arizona †16–2 .88936–3  .923
No. 7 Houston14–4 .77830–7  .811
No. 20 Kansas12–6 .66724–11  .686
No. 21 Texas Tech12–6 .66723–11  .676
No. 8 Iowa State12–6 .66729–8  .784
TCU11–7 .61123–12  .657
West Virginia9–9 .50021–14  .600
UCF9–9 .50021–12  .636
Cincinnati9–9 .50018–15  .545
BYU9–9 .50023–12  .657
Colorado7–11 .38917–16  .515
Arizona State7–11 .38917–16  .515
Baylor6–12 .33317–17  .500
Oklahoma State6–12 .33320–15  .571
Kansas State3–15 .16712–20  .375
Utah2–16 .11110–22  .313
† 2026 Big 12 tournament winner
Rankings from AP poll
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Previous season

The Cyclones finished the 2024–25 season 25–10, 13–7 in Big 12 play to finish in fifth place. As the No. 5 seed in the Big 12 tournament, they defeated the No. 13 seed Cincinnati in the second round before losing in the quarterfinals to No. 4 seed BYU. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament as an No. 3 seed in the South region. They defeated 14 seed Lipscomb before losing to No. 6 seed Ole Miss in the second round. On January 13, the Cyclones reached #2 in the AP Poll, which was the highest ranking in program history.

Offseason

Departures

More information Name, Number ...
Iowa State departures
Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Reason for departure
Dishon Jackson1C6'11"260Redshirt SeniorOakland, CATransferred to Pittsburgh
Demarion Watson4G6'7"215JuniorMinneapolis, MNTransferred to North Texas
Curtis Jones5G6'4"175SeniorMinneapolis, MNGraduated/undrafted in 2025 NBA draft; signed with the Denver Nuggets
Keshon Gilbert10G6'4"190SeniorSt. Louis, MOGraduated
Kayden Fish11F6'6"250Redshirt FreshmanKansas City, MOTransferred to Ball State
Nojus Indrusaitis15G6'5"200FreshmanChicago, ILTransferred to Pittsburgh
Conrad Hawley23F6'5"220SeniorRaymore, MOWalk-on; graduated
JT Rock30C7'1"245Redshirt FreshmanSioux Falls, SDTransferred to New Mexico
Brandton Chatfield33F6'10"260Redshirt SeniorOrofino, IDGraduated
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Incoming transfers

More information Name, Num ...
Iowa State incoming transfers
Name Num Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Previous school
Mason Williams2G6'5"180JuniorSeattle, WAEastern Washington
Eric Mulder4G6'8"225SeniorOskaloosa, IAPurdue Fort Wayne
Dominick Nelson11G6'5"180SeniorMiami, FLUtah Valley
Blake Buchanan23F6'11"225JuniorCoeur D'Alene, IDVirginia
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Recruiting

2025 recruiting class

More information Name, Hometown ...
College recruiting information
Name Hometown School Height Weight Commit date
Jamarion Batemon
#10 SG		 Milwaukee, WI Milwaukee Academy of Sciences 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Jul 1, 2024 
Recruit ratings: Rivals: 4/5 stars   247Sports: 4/5 stars   ESPN: 4/5 stars   (83)
Xzavion Mitchell
#13 PF		 Oshkosh, WI Oshkosh North High School 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Mar 23, 2024 
Recruit ratings: Rivals: 4/5 stars   247Sports: 4/5 stars   ESPN: 4/5 stars   (82)
Killyan Toure
#37 SG		 Wolfeboro, NH Brewster Academy 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Oct 12, 2024 
Recruit ratings: Rivals: 3/5 stars   247Sports: 4/5 stars   ESPN: 4/5 stars   (81)
Dominykas Pleta
PF		 Germany N/A 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Feb 14, 2025 
Recruit ratings: Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    (NR)
Overall recruit ranking:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, On3, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2025 Iowa State Basketball Commitments". Rivals. Retrieved August 4, 2025.
  • "2025 Iowa State Cyclones Recruiting Class". Scout. Retrieved August 4, 2025.
  • "2025 Iowa State Basketball Commits". ESPN. Retrieved August 4, 2025.
  • "Scout.com Team Recruiting Rankings". Scout. Retrieved August 4, 2025.
  • "2025 Team Ranking". Rivals. Retrieved August 4, 2025.
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2026 recruiting class

More information College recruiting information (2026), Name ...
College recruiting information (2026)
Name Hometown School Height Weight Commit date
Yusef Gray Jr.
#13 SG		 West Allis, WI West Allis Central High School 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Jan 19, 2025 
Recruit ratings: Rivals: 3/5 stars   247Sports: 3/5 stars   ESPN: 4/5 stars   (82)
Christian Wiggins
SG		 Minneapolis, MN Wayzata High School 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Apr 19, 2025 
Recruit ratings: Rivals: 3/5 stars   247Sports: 4/5 stars   ESPN:    (NR)
Overall recruit ranking:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, On3, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

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Roster

More information Players, Coaches ...
2025–26 Iowa State Cyclones men's basketball team
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#NameHeightWeightYearPrevious schoolHometown
G 0 Nate Heise 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)212 lb (96 kg) GSNorthern Iowa Lake City, Minnesota
G 1 Jamarion Batemon 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)185 lb (84 kg) FrMilwaukee Academy of Science Milwaukee, Wisconsin
G 2 Mason Williams 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)182 lb (83 kg) JrEastern Washington Seattle, Washington
G 3 Tamin Lipsey 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)200 lb (91 kg) SrAmes High School Ames, Iowa
G 4 Eric Mulder 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)218 lb (99 kg) SrPurdue Fort Wayne Oskaloosa, Iowa
F 5 Joshua Jefferson 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)240 lb (109 kg) SrChrist the King Las Vegas, Nevada
G 7 Anthony Rise (W) 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)165 lb (75 kg) FrBrookfield Central Milwaukee, Wisconsin
G 11 Dominick Nelson 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)175 lb (79 kg) SrUtah Valley Miami, Florida
G 13 Cade Kelderman (W) 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)185 lb (84 kg) JrWaukee Northwest Waukee, Iowa
F 21 Dominykas Pleta 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)235 lb (107 kg) FrArnoldi Gymnasium Gotha, Germany
F 22 Milan Momcilovic 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)225 lb (102 kg) JrPewaukee Pewaukee, Wisconsin
F 23 Blake Buchanan 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)225 lb (102 kg) JrVirginia Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
G 27 Killyan Toure 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)193 lb (88 kg) FrBrewster Academy Pamiers, France
F 55 Xzavion Mitchell 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)200 lb (91 kg) FrNorth Oshkosh, Wisconsin
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster

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Schedule and results

Source:[1]

More information Date time, TV, Rank# ...
Date
time, TV		 Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
city, state
Exhibition
October 17, 2025*
7:30 p.m., NPM		 No. 16 at No. 23 Creighton L 58–71  -
  18 – Jefferson  12 – Jefferson  2 – Momcilovic  CHI Health Center Omaha (15,571)
Omaha, NE
October 26, 2025*
12:00 p.m., ESPN+		 No. 16 Northwestern W 80–72  -
  19 – Heise  7 – Jefferson  5 – Toure  Hilton Coliseum (13,560)
Ames, IA
Non-conference Regular season
November 3, 2025*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+		 No. 16 Fairleigh Dickinson W 88–50  1–0
  29 – Momcilovic  10 – Jefferson  5 – Lipsey  Hilton Coliseum (13,332)
Ames, IA
November 6, 2025*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+		 No. 16 Grambling State W 102–62  2–0
  20 – Jefferson  9 – Buchanan  6 – Lipsey  Hilton Coliseum (13,609)
Ames, IA
November 10, 2025*
7:00 p.m., ESPNU		 No. 16 vs. Mississippi State W 96–80  3–0
  25 – Lipsey  6 – Buchanan  6 – Lipsey  Sanford Pentagon (3,426)
Sioux Falls, SD
November 17, 2025*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+		 No. 16 Stonehill W 96–57  4–0
  23 – Tied  9 – Jefferson  7 – Jefferson  Hilton Coliseum (13,416)
Ames, IA
November 24, 2025*
3:30 p.m., TruTV		 No. 15 vs. No. 14 St. John's
Players Era Festival Group Stage		 W 83–82  5–0
  23 – Momcilovic  8 – Jefferson  5 – Lipsey  Michelob Ultra Arena 
Paradise, NV
November 25, 2025*
1:00 p.m., TruTV		 No. 15 vs. Creighton
Players Era Festival Group Stage		 W 78–60  6–0
  20 – Toure  10 – Jefferson  6 – Heise  Michelob Ultra Arena 
Paradise, NV
November 26, 2025*
12:00 p.m., TNT		 No. 15 vs. Syracuse
Players Era Festival Consolation Game		 W 95–64  7–0
  24 – Momcliovic  6 – Jefferson  10 – Jefferson  MGM Grand Garden Arena 
Paradise, NV
December 3, 2025*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+		 No. 10 Alcorn State W 132–68  8–0
  27 – Momcliovic  5 – Pleta  10 – Jefferson  Hilton Coliseum (13,429)
Ames, IA
December 6, 2025*
11:00 a.m., CBS		 No. 10 at No. 1 Purdue W 81–58  9–0
  20 – Momcilovic  9 – Buchanan  8 – Lipsey  Mackey Arena (14,876)
West Lafayette, IN
December 11, 2025*
7:00 p.m., FS1		 No. 4 Iowa
Rivalry/Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series		 W 66–62  10–0
  24 – Jefferson  6 – Buchanan  4 – Lipsey  Hilton Coliseum (14,267)
Ames, IA
December 14, 2025*
12:00 p.m., ESPN+		 No. 4 Eastern Illinois W 77–53  11–0
  18 – Momcilovic  9 – Jefferson  7 – Lipsey  Hilton Coliseum (13,876)
Ames, IA
December 21, 2025*
5:00 p.m., ESPN+		 No. 4 Long Beach State W 91–60  12–0
  27 – Momcilovic  13 – Buchanan  7 – Lipsey  Hilton Coliseum (14,267)
Ames, IA
December 29, 2025*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+		 No. 3 Houston Christian W 89–61  13–0
  23 – Jefferson  9 – Buchanan  5 – Jefferson  Hilton Coliseum (14,267)
Ames, IA
Big 12
January 2, 2026
8:00 p.m., ESPN2		 No. 3 West Virginia W 80–59  14–0
(1–0)		  26 – Momcilovic  10 – Jefferson  10 – Jefferson  Hilton Coliseum (14,267)
Ames, IA
January 7, 2026
7:00 p.m., Peacock		 No. 3 at Baylor W 70–60  15–0
(2–0)		  24 – Lipsey  16 – Jefferson  3 – Tied  Foster Pavilion (7,287)
Waco, TX
January 10, 2026
3:00 p.m., ESPN2		 No. 3 Oklahoma State W 83–71  16–0
(3–0)		  19 – Jefferson  7 – Toure  5 – Tied  Hilton Coliseum (14,267)
Ames, IA
January 13, 2026
8:00 p.m., ESPN		 No. 2 at Kansas L 63–84  16–1
(3–1)		  12 – Tied  8 – Jefferson  5 – Lipsey  Allen Fieldhouse (15,300)
Lawrence, KS
January 17, 2026
1:00 p.m., Peacock		 No. 2 at Cincinnati L 70–79  16–2
(3–2)		  34 – Momcilovic  9 – Jefferson  5 – Jefferson  Fifth Third Arena (10,551)
Cincinnati, OH
January 20, 2026
6:00 p.m., CBSSN		 No. 9 UCF W 87–57  17–2
(4–2)		  20 – Momcilovic  10 – Jefferson  12 – Jefferson  Hilton Coliseum (14,267)
Ames, IA
January 24, 2026
3:00 p.m., Peacock		 No. 9 at Oklahoma State W 84–71  18–2
(5–2)		  29 – Momcilovic  9 – Buchanan  5 – Lipsey  Gallagher-Iba Arena (6,280)
Stillwater, OK
January 29, 2026
6:00 p.m., FS1		 No. 8 Colorado W 97–67  19–2
(6–2)		  17 – Batemon  8 – Heise  5 – Tied  Hilton Coliseum (14,267)
Ames, IA
February 1, 2026
1:00 p.m., FOX		 No. 8 at Kansas State W 95–61  20–2
(7–2)		  19 – Jefferson  8 – Jefferson  9 – Lipsey  Bramlage Coliseum (8,031)
Manhattan, KS
February 7, 2026
1:00 p.m., ESPN		 No. 7 Baylor W 72–69  21–2
(8–2)		  21 – Momcilovic  9 – Lipsey  4 – Jefferson  Hilton Coliseum (14,267)
Ames, IA
February 10, 2026
8:00 p.m., FS1		 No. 5 at TCU L 55–62  21–3
(8–3)		  12 – Tied  7 – Jefferson  9 – Jefferson  Schollmaier Arena (4,944)
Fort Worth, TX
February 14, 2026
12:00 p.m., ABC		 No. 5 No. 9 Kansas W 74–56  22–3
(9–3)		  18 – Momcilovic  6 – Buchanan  4 – Tied  Hilton Coliseum (14,267)
Ames, IA
February 16, 2026
8:00 p.m., ESPN		 No. 6 No. 2 Houston W 70–67  23–3
(10–3)		  12 – Jefferson  8 – Lipsey  5 – Jefferson  Hilton Coliseum (14,267)
Ames, IA
February 21, 2026
9:30 p.m., ESPN		 No. 6 at No. 23 BYU L 69–75  23–4
(10–4)		  19 – Lipsey  8 – Jefferson  7 – Jefferson  Marriott Center (18,046)
Provo, UT
February 24, 2026
8:00 p.m., FS1		 No. 4 at Utah W 75–59  24–4
(11–4)		  21 – Jefferson  6 – Jefferson  5 – Lipsey  Jon M. Huntsman Center (6,867)
Salt Lake City, UT
February 28, 2026
3:00 p.m., CBS		 No. 4 No. 16 Texas Tech L 73–82  24–5
(11–5)		  22 – Jefferson  11 – Buchanan  5 – Jefferson  Hilton Coliseum (14,267)
Ames, IA
March 2, 2026
8:00 p.m., ESPN		 No. 6 at No. 2 Arizona L 57–73  24–6
(11–6)		  17 – Lipsey  8 – Jefferson  2 – Tied  McKale Center (14,688)
Tucson, AZ
March 7, 2026
1:00 p.m., FS1		 No. 6 Arizona State W 86–65  25–6
(12–6)		  16 – Tied  7 – Jefferson  6 – Lipsey  Hilton Coliseum (14,267)
Ames, IA
Big 12 Tournament
March 11, 2026
11:30 a.m., ESPN		 (5) No. 7 vs. (12) Arizona State
Second round		 W 91–42  26−6
  21 – Momcilovic  14 – Jefferson  4 – Tied  T-Mobile Center (12,477)
Kansas City, MO
March 12, 2026
11:30 a.m., ESPN		 (5) No. 7 vs. (4) No. 16 Texas Tech
Quarterfinal		 W 75–53  27−6
  20 – Lipsey  13 – Jefferson  6 – Jefferson  T-Mobile Center (14,745)
Kansas City, MO
March 13, 2026
6:00 p.m., ESPN		 (5) No. 7 vs. (1) No. 2 Arizona
Semifinal		 L 80–82  27−7
  28 – Momcilovic  5 – Momcilovic  5 – Lipsey  T-Mobile Center (19,450)
Kansas City, MO
NCAA Tournament
March 20, 2026
1:50 p.m., CBS		 (2 MW) No. 6 vs. (15 MW) Tennessee State
First round		 W 108–71  28–7
  25 – Toure  11 – Toure  8 – Buchanan  Enterprise Center (17,192)
St. Louis, MO
March 22, 2026
1:45 p.m., CBS		 (2 MW) No. 6 vs. (7 MW) Kentucky
Second round		 W 82–63  29–7
  26 – Lipsey  8 – Buchanan  10 – Lipsey  Enterprise Center (16,348)
St. Louis, MO
March 27, 2026*
9:10 p.m., TBS/truTV		 (2 MW) No. 6 vs. (6 MW) No. 23 Tennessee
Sweet Sixteen		 L 62–76  29–8
  18 – Tied  5 – Tied  5 – Lipsey  United Center (21,508)
Chicago, IL
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
MW=Midwest.
All times are in Central Time.
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Rankings

See also: 2025–26 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings
More information Week, Poll ...
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
( ) = First-place votes
Week
PollPre12345678910111213141516171819Final
AP16161615104 (1)4 (1)3 (1)3 (1)32 (1)9875646768
Coaches1816141394 (1)43332 (1)9974657768
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References

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