In one of the most shocking upsets of the college basketball season, Kansas State delivered a dominant performance on the road, defeating No. 3 Iowa State 80-61 on Saturday night. The victory not only ended the Cyclones’ 29-game home winning streak but also solidified Kansas State’s ability to compete with the best in the Big 12.
Wildcats Dominate From Start to Finish
Kansas State (10-11, 4-6 Big 12) entered the game as a significant underdog, but they set the tone early, executing an efficient offensive game plan and stifling Iowa State’s high-powered attack. Dug McDaniel led the Wildcats with 20 points, and the team shot an impressive 50% from beyond the arc.
A pivotal 12-0 run in the second half allowed Kansas State to pull away, extending their lead to 19 points. Tensions rose when Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger received a technical foul, further shifting momentum in Kansas State’s favor.
Cyclones Struggle to Find Answers
Iowa State (17-4, 7-3 Big 12) came into the matchup boasting one of the nation’s longest active home winning streaks. However, the Cyclones struggled with Kansas State’s aggressive defense, shooting just 36.5% from the field.
Tamin Lipsey led Iowa State with 20 points, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Wildcats’ hot shooting and defensive intensity. The Cyclones managed to trim the deficit to single digits with a 13-0 run late in the game, but Kansas State responded with another scoring surge to seal the win.
A Historic Win for Kansas State
The victory marked Kansas State’s first road win over a top-five team since 2012 and the program’s biggest road upset in recent history. Head coach Jerome Tang praised his team’s effort, emphasizing their resilience and ability to execute under pressure.
“This is a special win for our guys,” Tang said postgame. “We’ve had some ups and downs this season, but tonight we proved that we can compete with anybody in this league.”
What’s Next?
Kansas State will look to build on this momentum as they continue their Big 12 schedule, while Iowa State will aim to regroup and bounce back from their first home loss in nearly two years.
For now, Kansas State’s upset win will go down as one of the most memorable moments of the college basketball season.
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