BOULDER, Colo. — Curtis Jones led the scoring for Iowa State with 20 points, and Keshon Gilbert chipped in 14 as the No. 3 ranked Cyclones commenced their Big 12 Conference play with a 79-69 victory against Colorado on Monday night.

With this win, Iowa State improved its record to 11-1 and extended its winning streak to eight consecutive games. This triumph added to their previous matchup against Colorado where they secured a notable 99-71 victory during the Maui Invitational on November 27.

Julian Hammond III was a standout performer for Colorado, contributing 21 points, while RJ Smith added another 14. This game marked Colorado’s return to the Big 12 after spending 13 years in the Pac-12 Conference.

The contest was significant for the Buffaloes as it represented their first Big 12 action since March 5, 2011, when they achieved a victory over Nebraska with a score of 67-57.

Although Colorado was able to narrow the gap to 64-63, courtesy of Trevor Baskin’s free throws with 4:59 remaining, the Cyclones responded emphatically by scoring the following six points, establishing a lead of 70-64. Colorado struggled to find the basket, going nearly three minutes without a point, while Iowa State maintained their advantage culminating in Hammond’s late layup with just 15 seconds left.

**Highlights from the Game**

Iowa State demonstrated their resilience in a challenging setting, securing their eighth consecutive win. Impressively, all eight of those victories have come by double-digit margins.

On the other hand, Colorado put forth a much more competitive effort against Iowa State compared to their previous encounter in Maui, successfully reacting to the surge from the Cyclones at the beginning of the second half and keeping the score close throughout the match.

A crucial turning point in the game arose when Colorado momentarily took the lead at 55-50 with 12:01 left in play. Iowa State then intensified their defensive efforts, limiting Colorado to just two points for over six minutes, which allowed them to seize control of the match.

**Statistical Insight**

This loss marked the first home defeat for Colorado in nine games this season. Prior to this event, the Buffaloes had achieved an impressive streak of 11 home victories dating back to last year, winning 24 out of their last 25 home games before this matchup.

**Looking Ahead**

Next on Iowa State’s schedule is a home game against No. 25 Baylor set for Saturday afternoon, while Colorado will be heading to Arizona State on the same day.