Cincinnati Stuns No. 2 Iowa State as Bearcats Earn Signature Quad 1 Win at Home

CINCINNATI — Cincinnati delivered its most significant win of the season Saturday night, knocking off No. 2 Iowa State 79 to 70 in a result that reshapes the Bearcats’ NCAA Tournament outlook and hands the Cyclones their second straight loss after a dominant start.

Day Day Thomas led Cincinnati with 19 points, controlling the tempo late as the Bearcats secured their first Quad 1 victory of the season. Jizzle James added 15 points, while Sencire Harris and Jalen Celestine scored 12 apiece for Cincinnati, which improved to 10 and 8 overall and 2 and 3 in Big 12 play under head coach Wes Miller.

The win came amid mounting pressure for Cincinnati, which entered the night winless in six Quad 1 opportunities. The urgency showed early as the Bearcats jumped to a 16 to 8 lead behind three consecutive three point makes from Celestine. Thomas extended the run with a deep triple to push the margin to 19 to 8, setting the tone for a night defined by defensive intensity and timely shot making.

Cincinnati forced 12 Iowa State turnovers that resulted in 20 points, repeatedly disrupting a Cyclones offense that had been among the most efficient in the country. Iowa State, which leads the nation in three point shooting percentage, missed six of its first seven attempts from beyond the arc and struggled to generate clean looks outside of Milan Momcilovic.

Momcilovic delivered a career high 34 points for Iowa State, connecting on eight three pointers and accounting for nearly all of the Cyclones’ perimeter success. He finished 8 of 14 from long range, while the rest of the team combined to go 1 of 7 from deep. Iowa State closed the game 9 of 21 from three point range, with Momcilovic responsible for all but one make.

Despite the shooting disparity, Iowa State rallied late in the first half. Momcilovic hit his first three with 1 minute and 38 seconds remaining, sparking a push that trimmed an 11 point deficit to 35 to 31 at halftime. Joshua Jefferson, who finished with 16 points, tied the game at 38 early in the second half with a layup.

Cincinnati responded decisively with an 11 to 0 run, regaining control behind Thomas’ shot creation and defensive stops. Thomas hit a three pointer and followed with a mid range jumper to extend the lead to 54 to 42, then later buried his third three of the night to make it 67 to 50.

Iowa State made one final push, closing within 69 to 64 after a 14 to 2 run fueled by nine more points from Momcilovic with 4 minutes and 38 seconds remaining. The Bearcats steadied themselves at the free throw line and through half court execution, closing out the upset and avoiding the late collapse that has plagued them earlier this season.

For Iowa State, the loss drops the Cyclones to 16 and 2 overall and 3 and 2 in conference play. After opening the season with 16 straight wins, the Cyclones have now dropped back to back games following an 84 to 63 loss at Kansas earlier in the week, raising questions about consistency away from home as Big 12 play intensifies.

The result represents a turning point opportunity for Cincinnati, which had seen head coach Wes Miller booed during pregame introductions amid frustration over close losses and missed opportunities. The Bearcats now carry momentum into a demanding road test at top ranked Arizona, while Iowa State returns home to host UCF as it looks to stabilize its conference standing.

From a postseason perspective, Cincinnati’s first Quad 1 win significantly strengthens its resume, while Iowa State remains firmly in the national picture but faces renewed scrutiny as league play exposes thinner margins against physical defensive teams.