Second-Half Surge Lifts Iowa State Past Kansas State, Secures Big 12 Tournament Bye
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Iowa State used a dominant second half performance Sunday afternoon to defeat Kansas State 93-79 at Bramlage Coliseum, locking up a first-round bye in the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Tournament.
With the win, the Cyclones improve to 22-8 overall and 10-8 in Big 12 play. Iowa State will enter the conference tournament as the No. 7 seed next week in Kansas City.
Audi Crooks powered the Cyclones with a standout performance, scoring 41 points and pulling down 13 rebounds while shooting an efficient 16-of-19 from the floor. Jada Williams added 23 points, five rebounds and nine assists, while Addy Brown chipped in seven points, a game-high 14 rebounds and three blocks.
Iowa State controlled the glass throughout the afternoon, outrebounding Kansas State 48-24, and converted 23-of-24 free throw attempts.
Back-and-Forth First Half
Crooks opened the scoring for Iowa State on an assist from Williams, and the Cyclones built an early lead behind strong interior play and timely shooting. Williams connected on a three-pointer and followed with back-to-back midrange jumpers as ISU pushed ahead 21-13 late in the first quarter.
Kansas State responded with a 9-3 run fueled by three triples to cut the deficit to two, but Iowa State carried a 26-22 lead into the second quarter.
The Wildcats seized momentum midway through the second period, using a 10-0 run and a full-court press that forced three Cyclone turnovers to take their first lead since early in the game. Kansas State extended its advantage to 34-28 before ISU battled back to within one. However, a late three-pointer and two free throws gave the Wildcats a 43-37 halftime lead.
Cyclones Take Control After Break
Iowa State quickly regrouped coming out of the locker room. Brown grabbed an offensive rebound and found Crooks for an easy basket to spark the rally. Back-to-back scores from Crooks and Kenzie Hare gave ISU a 46-45 lead early in the third quarter.
The teams traded leads throughout the remainder of the period, but a late lob from Reese Beaty to Crooks helped Iowa State take a 65-62 edge into the fourth quarter.
The Cyclones seized control in the final 10 minutes. Crooks converted an and-one to stretch the lead, and Arianna Jackson knocked down a key three-pointer. Williams added a driving layup and a three on consecutive possessions to push the margin to 85-74 with under four minutes remaining.
Iowa State sealed the victory at the free-throw line, where Crooks, Brown and Williams calmly converted down the stretch.
Crooks Continues Historic Season
Crooks’ 41-point outing marked her 96th consecutive game scoring in double figures. It was her 12th double-double of the season and her fourth 40-point performance this year.
Up Next
Iowa State travels to Kansas City for the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Tournament. As the No. 7 seed, the Cyclones will face the winner of the No. 10 and No. 15 matchup on Thursday, March 6 at 5:30 p.m. The game will air on ESPN+.
