AMES — Milan Momcilovic canned a fadeaway jumper with :28 seconds left and sank two clutch free-throws moments later to help Iowa State (12-3, 1-1 Big 12) defeat previously unbeaten and No. 2-ranked Houston (14-1, 1-1 Big 12), 57-53 in a tough Big 12 matchup Tuesday night in Hilton Coliseum.
After Momcilovic’s big bucket, the Cougars had a chance for the final shot, but L.J. Cryer misfired on a 3-pointer with :14 seconds left. Tamin Lipsey secured the rebound and passed it to Momcilovic, who was fouled with :10 seconds remaining. He sank both free-throws to secure ISU’s 15th win over an AP Top-25 team in the T.J. Otzelberger era. Iowa State has seven wins over top 10 teams across the last two seasons and has eight total under Otz.
Momcilovic ended the game with 11 points and Lipsey led the Cyclones in scoring with 14.
Baskets were hard to come by for both teams in this defensive battle. After trailing by 10 points at the half, the Cougars took their first lead of the game with 3:10 left when a Jamal Shead runner made it 51-50. But Robert Jones scored a key lay-in on ISU’s next possession ending a six-minute field goal drought where the Cyclones were 0-for-9.
But the Cyclones got the key bucket it needed from Momcilovic after Shead tied the game at 53-53 with :55 seconds left.
Tre King scored seven of his nine points in the second half and led the Cyclones with nine caroms to aid the Cyclone effort. Emanuel Sharp led all players with 20 points behind five 3-pointers for the Cougars.
