AMES, Iowa (Interstat) — No. 10 Iowa State remained unbeaten, overcoming a halftime deficit to defeat in-state rival Iowa 66-62 in a men’s basketball game Thursday night at Hilton Coliseum. The Hawkeyes led 33-25 at halftime, but the Cyclones stormed back with a 41-point second half before a crowd of 14,267. The comeback preserved Iowa State’s perfect record at 10-0, while Iowa fell to 8-2. The game’s total points fell well below the pregame over/under line of 145.5. Iowa State was a 10.5-point favorite. The Cyclones’ next game is Sunday against Eastern Illinois, while Iowa hosts Western Michigan.

AMES, Iowa (Interstat) — In a rivalry defined by Hilton Magic, the Iowa State Cyclones authored a second-half comeback for the record books Thursday night, erasing a 16-point deficit to remain undefeated with a 66-62 victory over the Iowa Hawkeyes. A raucous crowd of 14,267 at Hilton Coliseum watched the 10th-ranked Cyclones, who entered the game with a perfect 9-0 record, start ice-cold. They missed 12 of their first 14 shots and found themselves trailing 33-17 late in the first half. The Hawkeyes, efficient and disruptive, built their lead by capitalizing on a flurry of early Cyclone turnovers and connecting from deep, hitting five first-half three-pointers. The turning point came not with a single shot, but with a sustained defensive onslaught from Iowa State to open the second half. The Cyclones unleashed a full-court press that completely unraveled the Hawkeye offense. Iowa committed 10 of its 15 turnovers in the second half, which Iowa State converted into 15 points. A 20-4 Cyclone run over the first seven minutes of the half transformed a 33-25 halftime deficit into a 45-37 lead, a swing that sucked the life out of Iowa’s early momentum. Iowa State’s defense was the story, finishing with 11 steals and six blocks while holding Iowa to just 29 second-half points. The Hawkeyes, who shot 51% in the first half, were limited to 37.9% after the break. The Cyclones also dominated at the free-throw line, making 17 of 23 attempts compared to Iowa’s 3 of 5, a 14-point disparity that proved decisive in the tight final margin. Joshua Jefferson led all scorers with 24 points for Iowa State, including a crucial three-pointer with just over three minutes remaining to push the Cyclone lead to 61-58. He added seven rebounds, two blocks, and two steals. Point guard Tamin Lipsey, an Ames native, orchestrated the comeback with 14 points, four assists, and four steals. His backcourt mate, Killyan Toure, contributed seven points and was a catalyst in the press. For Iowa, which fell to 8-2, Tavion Banks led the way with 14 points. Cam Manyawu added 10 points, but the Hawkeyes’ offense stagnated against the increased pressure, managing only five assists for the entire game against 15 turnovers. Iowa had a chance to tie in the final seconds down 64-62, but Bennett Stirtz missed a three-pointer with five seconds left. After Joshua Jefferson secured the rebound and was fouled, he sank two free throws to seal the game. The victory extends Iowa State’s season-opening win streak to 10 games, while Iowa sees a two-game winning streak snapped. The Hawkeyes had won their previous contest convincingly over Maryland, but could not sustain their early precision against their in-state rival’s relentless defensive pressure. According to the pregame projections from National Statistical’s ELO system, Iowa State was forecasted with an 84.3% probability to win and was installed as a 10.5-point favorite. The combined score of 128 fell well under the over/under line of 145.5, a testament to the defensive struggle, particularly in the game’s decisive second half. Iowa State will look to continue its perfect start when it hosts Eastern Illinois on Sunday. Iowa returns home to face Western Michigan, also on Sunday, aiming to rebound from the tough in-state loss.

Preview: Iowa at Iowa State in Intrastate Showdown AMES, Iowa (Interstat) — The nation’s only remaining unbeaten team will put its perfect record on the line in one of the Midwest’s most heated rivalries Thursday when Iowa State hosts Iowa at Hilton Coliseum. The Cyclones (9-0) have steamrolled their competition, including an emphatic 81-58 road victory over then-Purdue last Saturday. Iowa State’s defense has been stifling, holding opponents to an average of 58.7 points per game. Forward Blake Buchanan has been a versatile anchor, averaging 9.3 points and 6.6 rebounds. He posted 12 points, nine rebounds and two blocks in the win at Purdue. The eighth-ranked Hawkeyes (8-1) arrive with their own momentum, coming off an 83-64 rout of Maryland. Their lone blemish is a 71-52 road loss to Michigan State on Dec. 2. The offense runs through guard Bennett Stirtz, who is averaging 17.8 points and 4.6 assists. Stirtz is coming off a 25-point performance against Maryland and scored 29 in a win over Mississippi on Nov. 25. This annual battle, often decided by single digits, features a stark contrast. Iowa State’s relentless, top-ranked defense will be tested by an Iowa offense averaging 78.2 points. The Hawkeyes have shown vulnerability on the road, while the Cyclones have protected their home court decisively, winning by an average margin of 44 points in four games at Hilton Coliseum this season. Iowa State’s balanced attack, led by Buchanan, Tamin Lipsey (11.9 ppg, 6.4 apg) and Joshua Jefferson (11.3 ppg), will challenge an Iowa defense that allowed 71 points in its only loss. The Hawkeyes will counter with Stirtz and forwards Cam Manyawu and Cooper Koch, who combined for 23 points and 14 rebounds against Maryland. History adds to the stakes. Iowa State holds a narrow lead in the all-time series, but Iowa won last year’s meeting 90-65 in Iowa City. The Cyclones now seek to defend their top ranking and home floor in what promises to be a charged atmosphere. The winner claims early-state bragging rights and a signature nonconference victory to bolster its NCAA tournament resume. For Iowa State, it’s a chance to solidify its standing. For Iowa, it’s an opportunity to hand its rival a first loss and announce itself as a national contender. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. EST Thursday. Iowa hosts Western Michigan on Sunday, while Iowa State welcomes Eastern Illinois.