AMELS, Iowa — In an impressive turnaround, No. 8 Iowa State secured an 82-52 victory against TCU on Saturday, putting an end to their three-game losing streak. Curtis Jones led the Cyclones with 24 points, while Milan Momcilovic made a successful return from injury, contributing an additional 14 points. Dishon Jackson also had a noteworthy performance, scoring 14 points, and Joshua Jefferson recorded a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Momcilovic had been sidelined since January 11, when Iowa State triumphed over Texas Tech in an overtime thriller. His injury, which affected his non-shooting hand, had occurred during practice just before a scheduled match against Kansas on January 15. For TCU, Trazarie White and Vasean Allette each provided nine points in the contest.

Despite their efforts, TCU faced considerable challenges on the offensive end, managing to shoot just 37.3% overall and an even less effective 14.3% from beyond the arc. On the contrary, Iowa State excelled in the paint, registering a remarkable 44 of their total points from close range.

A pivotal moment in the game was when Jones, who had been struggling with his three-point shooting in the previous matches, made three consecutive deep shots late in the first half. This unexpected burst in scoring helped ignite the Cyclones’ offensive momentum, allowing them to take control of the game.

In addition to the standout performances, Iowa State’s Nate Heise hit a career milestone, scoring four points during the game to surpass 1,000 points for his career. Heise’s journey has been marked by a transition from being a starting player to a bench contributor this season, making his achievement all the more significant.

Looking ahead, Iowa State is set to face UCF on Tuesday evening, while TCU will host Oklahoma State on Wednesday. Both teams will be eager to build on their recent performances as they progress through the season.