Ames, Iowa — Depth, defense, and sustained pressure continued to define No. 4 Iowa State Cyclones on Sunday, as the Cyclones rolled past the Eastern Illinois Panthers 78–53 to remain unbeaten on the season.
Milan Momcilovic led Iowa State with 18 points, pacing four Cyclones in double figures as the program opened 11–0 for just the third time in its history. The Cyclones previously accomplished the feat during the 2014–15 and 2021–22 seasons.
Iowa State took firm control late in the first half, outscoring Eastern Illinois 26–9 over the final 10 minutes before intermission to build a comfortable cushion it never relinquished. The win marked the fourth time this season the Cyclones have held an opponent under 60 points.
Blake Buchanan delivered an energetic first-half performance, scoring all 14 of his points before the break while punctuating the run with three emphatic dunks. Joshua Jefferson added 11 points and nine rebounds, narrowly missing a double-double.
Defense Remains the Constant
While Iowa State struggled from the perimeter, the defense once again carried the day. The Cyclones are now 23–0 all-time against teams from the Ohio Valley Conference and have won 33 straight games when holding an opponent below 60 points.
Under head coach T.J. Otzelberger, Iowa State owns a remarkable 56–3 record when limiting teams to 59 points or fewer, underscoring the identity that has powered the Cyclones’ rise into the national elite.
Panthers Can’t Keep Pace
Eastern Illinois (2–8) was facing its second top-five opponent of the season, having previously fallen to then-No. 1 Purdue Boilermakers in late November. Injuries again forced the Panthers to shuffle their lineup, marking the seventh different starting five they have used in just 10 games.
Kooper Jacobi and Zion Fruster led Eastern Illinois with 11 points apiece. The Panthers shot an efficient 46.7% in the first half but cooled off dramatically after the break, going just 9-of-31 from the floor in the second half.
Off Night from Deep, Still Dominant
Iowa State didn’t rely on its long-range shooting to win. The Cyclones finished just 4-of-17 from three-point range and missed all 11 attempts in the second half, their worst shooting performance from beyond the arc since a February loss to Kansas last season. Even so, their interior scoring and defensive control kept the game firmly in hand.
Up Next:
Eastern Illinois returns home to host SIUE Cougars on Thursday.
Iowa State continues its homestand Sunday against Long Beach State Beach, looking to extend its unbeaten start and defensive dominance.
