Nate Heise turned a raucous night in Ames into a signature moment for Iowa State, drilling a late go-ahead 3-pointer that capped a furious rally and sealed a 70 to 67 victory over No. 2 Houston. We watched No. 6 Iowa State erase a double-digit deficit, lean into its defensive identity, and ride Heise’s shot-making to a win that reshapes the Big 12 race and the national conversation around the Cyclones.
In a game that felt like March, Iowa State and Houston traded heavy blows before the Cyclones finally seized control in the closing minutes. The final margin of 70 to 67 reflects how thin the line was between a statement win and a missed opportunity, and it was Heise’s composure in the biggest possessions that ultimately separated the two top-five contenders.
Hilton Coliseum turns tense start into a late-night classic
The stage was set long before the final shot, with Hilton Coliseum packed and loud as No. 6 Iowa State hosted No. 2 Houston in a matchup that felt like a postseason preview. The official Game Information listed Attendance at 14,267 inside Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa, a number that matched the intensity we could feel through every defensive stop and every whistle. For a Monday night in Feb, the building had the energy of a regional final, with both fan bases knowing how much a head-to-head win could matter for seeding and confidence.
Houston arrived with the profile of a powerhouse, carrying a 23 to 3 record into Ames and the No. 2 ranking that comes with it, while Iowa State entered at 23 to 3 as well, sitting in the top six and fully aware that a home win would validate its rise. The official Men’s game listing framed it as a clash of equals, and the early minutes backed that up, with the Cougars’ physical defense disrupting the Cyclones and building an advantage that quieted the crowd. For much of the first half, Houston looked like the more seasoned group, dictating pace and forcing Iowa State to grind for every clean look.
Iowa State digs out of a 10-point hole
The game swung when Iowa State, trailing by double digits in the second half, refused to let Houston dictate the terms any longer. Reporting from one recap notes that The Cyclones rallied from a 10 point deficit to eventually claim a 70 to 67 win over Houston for their latest major victory, a comeback that started with more aggressive drives and tighter ball pressure on the perimeter. That surge flipped the tempo, turning a methodical Houston lead into a frantic stretch where Iowa State’s depth and defensive pressure finally started to wear on the visitors.
Those late stages highlighted how thin the margins were. One account of the game describes how The Cyclones closed on a 17 to 4 run to finish off Houston for a 70 to 67 result, with the home team suddenly getting to loose balls and turning stops into transition chances. In that stretch, we saw Houston for stretches look rushed for the first time all night, while Iowa State’s confidence grew with every possession. What had been a controlled Cougars performance unraveled under relentless pressure, and the scoreboard began to tilt toward the Cyclones almost instantly.
Nate Heise’s shooting turns the game on its head
From our vantage point, the defining sequence belonged to Nate Heise, whose perimeter shooting changed both the math and the mood. The game recap notes that Iowa State 70 to 67 Houston became reality in large part because Heise repeatedly found space beyond the arc and hit timely shots, including the go-ahead 3-pointer in the final minute that sent the arena into chaos. His ability to rise up in rhythm against a defense as disciplined as the Houston Cougars showed how far his confidence has come within this Cyclone offense.
One detailed breakdown highlights that Nate Heise drains another triple late, reinforcing how his outside shooting was not a one-off moment but a pattern throughout the night. In that account, we see Heise spacing the floor, then punishing Houston each time a defender went under a screen or hesitated on a closeout, which eventually forced the Cougars to stretch out and opened driving lanes for teammates. Another source on the same contest notes that Nate Heise hits go ahead 3-pointer to push Iowa State in front of Houston and secure the 70 to 67 margin, a shot that came after the Cyclones had already chipped away at the deficit and needed one more clean look to finally move in front.
The significance of that performance was not lost on those inside the program. In a separate piece focused on the guard’s emergence, Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger is quoted saying that of all the games from him as a Cyclone, this one stood out as the most elite, a comment that captures how Heise’s mix of shot-making and poise carried the offense when it wobbled. For a team that already leans heavily on its defense, having a perimeter scorer like Heise who can create separation in high leverage moments gives Iowa State a different ceiling when the bracket arrives.
Possession by possession, a heavyweight finish
As the clock wound down, the game turned into a series of possessions that felt like a postseason microcosm. A detailed Game Recap of Iowa State 70 to 67 Houston describes how the Cyclones tightened their defense, forcing Houston into contested jumpers and late-clock heaves while gradually erasing the gap. Every stop seemed to fuel the next offensive trip, with the crowd feeding off each deflection and rebound as the Cougars’ early control slipped away.
One of the most telling late-game sequences involved guard Tamin Lipsey, whose hustle kept the final margin intact. A play-by-play account explains how Lipsey, after a missed free throw in the closing seconds, got the offensive rebound and tapped the ball back to Joshua Jefferson, who was fouled with a second left. That extra possession prevented Houston from getting a clean look at a tying shot and allowed Jefferson to head back to the line, where even split free throws would preserve the 70 to 67 edge. Those kinds of effort plays, layered on top of Heise’s shooting, are what turned a tight finish into a signature home win.
Big 12 and national stakes of a 70–67 statement
This 70 to 67 outcome stands as more than just a highlight reel moment, because it reshapes how we talk about both programs in the Big 12 race. The official Iowa St box lists the final as Iowa St 70 and Houston 67, with both teams sitting at 23 to 3 overall, but with different conference marks that could decide the league title. For Iowa State, adding a win over a top two opponent to a resume that already included a recent victory over Kansas strengthens its case for a top seed and shows that its defense and late-game execution travel against elite competition.
From Houston’s perspective, the loss does not erase what has been a dominant season, but it exposes how even a small lapse in ball security or shot selection can swing a game in a hostile environment. One account of the night from Iowa State University Athletics highlights how Monday in Ames, Iowa turned into another chapter of Hilton Magic, with Iowa State using its home court to knock off a higher ranked opponent and energize its fan base. When we pair that with the broader context of the Men’s Tournament Challenge chatter that always follows a top five matchup, this 70 to 67 final becomes a data point that selection committees, analysts, and fans will keep circling as they project how deep The Cyclones can go.
