Hilton Magic strikes again: Cyclones stun Houston in Gold-Out thriller

Story byHilton Magic strikes again: Cyclones stun Houston in Gold-Out thrillerIowa State guard Nate Heise (0) dribbles the ball up court against Houston Cougar Kingston Flemings (4). | Jared LarsonJack ChristensenTue, February 17, 2026 at 4:53 AM UTC·2 min read

The mystique of Hilton Coliseum isn’t just a marketing slogan; it’s a living, breathing intensity that swallowed the No. 2 Houston Cougars whole tonight. In a sea of gold, No. 6 Iowa State pulled off a gritty 70-67 comeback victory, handing Kelvin Sampson’s squad just their third loss of the season.

The Finishing Kick: Perfection Under Pressure

Down the stretch, the Cyclones looked like a team possessed. Iowa State closed the game on a blistering 17-4 run, overcoming their own self-inflicted wounds at the charity stripe. Despite a frustrating 11-of-22 (50%) performance from the free-throw line, the Cyclones found enough “Magic” to neutralize a monster performance from Houston’s Kingston Flemings. Flemings finished with 22 points, continuing his trend of torching Top-10 opponents (averaging 25+ against elite competition this year).

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Perhaps the most staggering stat of the night: Iowa State played the final 18:10 of the second half without a single turnover. Executing that flawlessly against a Houston defense ranked ninth nationally in forcing turnovers is nothing short of surgical.

“How about Nate Heise?”

As T.J. Otzelberger just noted on the post-game radio broadcast: “How about Nate Heise?” On a night where the Hilton crowd was a sea of gold, Heise played with a different level of urgency. Sporting the gold jersey while his sister represents the US against Canada in the Olympic gold medal round, Heise brought that same championship energy to the hardwood.

With the game hanging in the balance at the 1:20 mark, Joshua Jefferson flashed incredible vision to find Heise, who converted the bucket to put ISU up 69-67 for good. It was the defining moment for a player who stepped up exactly when the Cyclones needed a hero.

AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementRespect for the Cougars

As always, a win over a Kelvin Sampson-coached team is earned, never given. Houston’s physicality and defensive structure were as advertised, making that turnover-free stretch and the 17-4 closing run even more impressive.

The Cyclones proved tonight that even when the free throws aren’t falling, the culture at Iowa State—and the power of a Gold Out crowd—is enough to topple giants.

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