Can the Houston Cougars Ride Their Momentum Against Iowa State Cyclones?

As the Houston Cougars prepare to host the Iowa State Cyclones at Fertitta Center, fans are eager to see if their team can continue its recent performance trend. The Cougars have shown a mix of resilience and areas for improvement in their past games, which sets the stage for an intriguing matchup.

In their last encounter with Rice Owls, the Cougars emerged victorious with a score of 71-63. Despite committing 20 turnovers and shooting only 36 percent from the field, they managed to secure a win thanks to their defensive prowess, blocking seven shots and making eight steals. Their rebounding was also key; they outrebounded the Owls by seven boards.

However, when looking at their away game against Washington State, it's clear that defense was an issue as they allowed 95 points on a staggering 59 percent shooting from Washington State. The Cougars struggled offensively too, hitting just 30 percent of their field goals and being outrebounded by a significant margin.

The game against UTSA Roadrunners showed signs of recovery with better ball control resulting in fewer turnovers (nine) and improved shooting percentages both from inside (42 percent) and at the free-throw line (85 percent). This two-point victory highlighted that when they control possession and capitalize on turnovers—scoring 21 points off them—they can grind out wins even when not shooting particularly well overall.

The upcoming game will test whether Houston can maintain its defensive intensity while improving offensive efficiency. Fans should look for how well they manage rebounds against Iowa State Cyclones' offense and whether they can minimize turnovers while maximizing points from fast breaks.

The showdown is scheduled for February 22nd at Fertitta Center in Houston. Fans can catch all the action live as it unfolds starting at 7:00 PM local time.