No. 8 Iowa State uses an early run to start 97-67 blowout against Colorado

(PHOTO): Iowa State guard Jamarion Batemon (1) celebrates after making a three-point basket during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Colorado, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, in Ames, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Freshman Jamarion Batemon scored 17 points off the bench to lead six Iowa State players in double figures, and the No. 8 Cyclones used an early flurry to take a big lead and go on to a 97-67 victory over Colorado on Thursday night.

Iowa State (19-2, 6-2 Big 12) won by 30 points for the second time in three games and has beaten all but two of its opponents by double digits. The Buffaloes (12-9, 2-6), who have dropped six straight and eight of their last 10, suffered their most lopsided conference loss since rejoining the Big 12 in 2024.

Colorado’s Sebastian Rancik opened the scoring with a 3-pointer, and then Iowa State outscored the Buffaloes 30-1 over the next 6 1/2 minutes and the rout was on.

Batemon, scoreless in Saturday’s game against Oklahoma State, hit a 3-pointer and converted a four-point play on consecutive possessions, and then Tamin Lipsey’s 3 and Nate Heise’s dunk put the Cyclones up by 26 points eight minutes into the game.

Milan Momcilovic scored 16 points for the Cyclones. Tamin Lipsey had 14 points and five assists and Joshua Jefferson had 13 points, eight rebounds and five assists. Freshmen Dominykas Pleta and Killyan Toure had 12 points apiece.

The Cyclones shot 61% from the field, their best mark in a conference game in four years.

Freshman Isaiah Johnson led the Buffaloes with 24 points and Barrington Hargress added 11.

Iowa State Notes

Iowa State went 6-2 in January for the second-straight year, the best January record under T.J. Otzelberger.
T.J. Otzelberger earned his 71^st home win, the fifth-most home wins in ISU history and the third-most in Hilton Coliseum history.
Iowa State’s 48 Big 12 wins since 2021-22 are the third-most in the league.
Tamin Lipsey started his 121^st game at Iowa State, tied for the fifth-most in program history.
- He earned his 88^th win at ISU, tying Melvin Ejim for the fifth-most in ISU history.
- He also moved to 21^st place in scoring in school history, passing Loren Meyer.
Milan Momcilovic moved to 12^th on the ISU single-season 3-pointer list, canning his 83^rd of the season on the night (passing Jake Sullivan – 2004).
- Momcilovic also moved to 30^th on the all-time ISU scoring list as he is up to 1,116.
Nate Heise eclipsed 1,200 career points.