Iowa
Takeaways from Iowa State basketball record-setting win vs Alcorn State
T.J. Otzelberger talks new Iowa State basketball scoring records
T.J. Otzelberger talks new Iowa State basketball scoring records
AMES — At one point during the second half of Iowa State basketball’s win over Alcorn State on Dec. 3, Nate Heise knocked down a 3-pointer and the PA announcer was halfway through saying Milan Momcilovic’s name before offering a quick correction.
With the way things were going on Wednesday night, could you blame him?
Not only did Momcilovic start by going 8-for-8 from beyond the arc, but it also felt like the rest of the Cyclones couldn’t miss.
No. 9 Iowa State bulldozed visiting Alcorn State, 132-68, setting team scoring and 3-point records along the way.
Coach T.J. Otzelberger called a timeout, not even two minutes into the game, to settle his team down after a sloppy start that led to an Alcorn State 7-0 run, fueled by uncharacteristic turnovers. His players got the message and quickly put things out of reach with a 29-4 run.
The Cyclones (8-0) held a commanding 65-28 lead by halftime. They led by as much as 66 points, with 5:58 left in the game.
Momcilovic finished with a game-high 27 points and five steals. Jamarion Batemon added 26 points and shot 7-of-10 from deep off the bench. Joshua Jefferson had a 24-point, 10-assist double-double in a turnover-free outing. Heise and Killyan Toure each had 13 points, while Dominykas Pleta added 12.
Here are three takeaways from the Cyclones’ win:
Jamarion Batemon on Iowa State basketball’s recent offensive success
Jamarion Batemon on Iowa State basketball’s recent offensive success
Iowa State basketball sets several team records
The Cyclones’ 22 made 3-pointers and 132 total points are new program single-game records.
With just under six minutes to go, Jefferson ran out in transition and considered going for a layup before kicking it out to an open Momcilovic. The junior converted with a corner 3-pointer that gave the Cyclones their largest lead of the night and officially broke the program’s 3-point record.
Iowa State previously made 18 3-pointers in a 92-89 overtime win at Kansas on Feb. 4, 2017.
Batemon caught fire in the second half, recording 17 of his 26 points after the break. He also sank one final long-range basket with under a minute to go, helping the Cyclones officially set the record at 22.
“It was amazing to just have that kind of fun with your guys,” Batemon said. “We work for it every day, so to see that kind of performance like that, it was amazing to see.”
The Cyclones also broke another record from that same season. On Nov. 20, 2016, Iowa State defeated The Citadel, 130-63.
Batemon’s final 3-pointer also gave the Cyclones the single-game team scoring record.
Iowa State was unselfish in its record-setting performance, with assists on 33 of 46 baskets.
The Cyclones also set new marks for most points scored in a single half by an Otzelberger-led team. Iowa State had 60 points in the second half against Syracuse last week, but it followed up by dropping 65 first-half points against the Braves and then 67 second-half points to finish off Alcorn State.
The program record for most points in a single half was 76 points against Omaha on Dec. 31, 1991.
“We’re not necessarily in this to try to break records; we want to play to a standard and play the best we can every possession,” Otzelberger said. “It’s great to see some of our guys with their confidence get going, shooting the ball the way that they are, so we’ll just continue to do the hard work and play one possession at a time, but for the work they put in, they should feel good about the way they shared the ball, the way they shot the ball. Now we need to continue to get better doing it.”
Cade Kelderman and Jamarion Batemon on Iowa State scoring records
Cade Kelderman and Jamarion Batemon on Iowa State scoring records
Iowa State’s scorching-hot shooting display
Over Iowa State’s last 60 minutes of basketball action, which includes the second half of the Cyclones’ 95-64 slaughter of Syracuse on Nov. 26, Iowa State has amassed 192 points. That’s an impressive 3.2 points per minute.
Since the second half against Syracuse, Iowa State is shooting a blistering 68-of-96 overall (70.8%) and 28-for-41 (68.3%) from beyond the arc.
When you break it down by half against Alcorn State, Iowa State shot 22-of-29 (75.9%) and 10-for-12 from deep in the first half. There was a slight dip after the break, but the Cyclones hardly missed a beat, shooting 24-of-36 (66.7%) and 12-of-18 from long range.
“It was a lot of fun,” Iowa State guard Cade Kelderman said. “Felt like everyone on our team couldn’t miss.”
Defensively, Iowa State generated 27 turnovers, which turned into 48 points the other way.
The Cyclones also won on the glass, once again, outrebounding Alcorn State, 32-18. Iowa State had 10 offensive rebounds, which turned into 20 second-chance points.
It was an all-around dominant performance.
“Our defense has to set the tone for everything,” Otzelberger said. “How we dictate and the physicality we play with always translates to the same thing on the offensive end, so our greatest performances defensively usually translate to things going well offensively.”
Iowa State basketball coach T.J. Otzelberger on Dom Nelson’s health
Iowa State basketball coach T.J. Otzelberger on Dom Nelson’s health
Iowa State guard Dominick Nelson is day-to-day, Cade Kelderman ready to step up
Dominick Nelson didn’t get to join in on the high-scoring affair and was a noticeable addition to the Cyclones’ injury list.
He did not play against Alcorn State and is day-to-day with a groin injury, according to Otzelberger.
“In the game against Syracuse, something that he kind of tweaked it — a lower-body, groin (injury),” Otzelberger said. “When we got back, it was a little bit more sore than we thought. Didn’t have great burst or range of motion. He’ll continue to be evaluated, he’s getting workouts in and when he’s ready to be reintegrated, we will do that, but I’d say at this point he’s day-to-day.”
Iowa State coach T.J Otzelberger on guard Cade Kelderman
Iowa State coach T.J Otzelberger on guard Cade Kelderman
With Nelson and Tamin Lipsey dealing with groin injuries, it looks like the Cyclones will be counting on Kelderman to step into the rotation.
The Waukee native carved a niche for himself as a dependable player who could fearlessly step into extended minutes at the end of last season when the Cyclones were bogged down by injuries. The junior guard played well enough that he was promoted from walk-on to scholarship player.
Kelderman had seen some action this year, sparingly, but against Alcorn State, he entered the game early in the first half and reappeared throughout. He had seven points, seven assists, four steals and no turnovers through 16 minutes.
“We knew that his opportunity would come and more opportunities are going to continue to come his way, so what I really value and appreciate about Cade is he’s an everyday guy,” Otzelberger said. “He’s a competitor, he’s a winner and when you call his number, he’s going to step up for you. We saw that again here today.”
Eugene Rapay covers Iowa State athletics for the Des Moines Register. Contact Eugene at erapay@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @erapay5.
An Iowa women’s basketball transfer portal visitor committed to one of the Hawkeyes’ conference foes instead. Former Iowa State guard Kenzie Hare took a visit to Iowa during her transfer portal recruitment, but the 5-foot-9 guard committed to Indiana on Sunday night.
Hare had several visits throughout her transfer portal recruiting process, including trips to Michigan and Illinois State, but the Des Moines Register’s Chad Leistikow reported that Hare also visited Iowa.
On3’s Talia Goodman reported Hare’s commitment to the Hoosiers.
Hare has one year of eligibility remaining. This past season with the Cyclones, in 32 games played and 31 starts, Hare averaged 6.0 points and 2.5 rebounds per game on 40.5% field goal shooting and 40% from 3-point range. A hip injury limited Hare to just 10 games during her first year with the Cyclones in the 2024-25 season.
The soon-to-be redshirt senior transferred to Iowa State before the 2024-25 campaign after spending two seasons at Marquette from 2022-24. Hare averaged a career-best 14 points per game on 45.5% field goal shooting and 42.5% 3-point shooting during the 2023-24 season with the Golden Eagles.
Had Iowa been able to lure the Naperville, Ill., native to Iowa City, Hare would have been another valuable addition to the Hawkeyes’ backcourt depth. But, Iowa has landed other backcourt reinforcements throughout this transfer portal cycle.
The Hawkeyes inked both Dani Carnegie and Amari Whiting.
Carnegie was a first-team All-SEC selection this past season at Georgia, averaging 17.8 points per game on 42.7% field goal shooting, 35.4% from 3-point range and 83.3% from the free-throw line. Whiting averaged 9.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.8 steals per game on 42.5% field goal shooting, 32.1% 3-point accuracy, and 71.6% free-throw shooting.
As Hare joins a promising core of players in Bloomington, the Hawkeyes will once again face the former Cyclone at least once this upcoming season as part of their Big Ten regular-season slate.
Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions. Follow Scout on X: @SpringgateNews
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Senator Chuck Grassley said he’s recovering from a gallstone removal procedure.
His media team shared that he is working in Iowa “in good spirits and looks forward to returning to Washington soon.”
“I’m gr8ful [sic] for the excellent care from local health care providers,” he shared on X.
Over the weekend in Iowa I had a procedure to remove gallstones I’m gr8ful for the excellent care from local health care providers Be back to capitol ASAP
— Chuck Grassley (@ChuckGrassley) April 20, 2026
Grassley, 92, is the oldest senator currently in office and the sixth-longest-serving senator in U.S. history.
The Senate is in session this week.
Copyright 2026 KCRG. All rights reserved.
Former Iowa State center Audi Crooks has committed to Oklahoma State via the NCAA Transfer Portal. She has one season of eligibility remaining.
Crooks made 99 appearances and 95 starts during her three seasons at Iowa State. She averaged 25.8 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game this past season, while shooting 64.9% from the field. Additionally, the 6-foot-3 star shot 1-11 from 3-point range.
Crooks played a leading role for the Cyclones from the moment she stepped on campus. She is a three-time All-Big 12 First-Team selection and two-time All-American. On April 2, Crooks announced her intention to enter the transfer portal.
“Cyclone Nation, thank you all for embracing me and showing up to Hilton every single game day. I’ve met so many of you out in the community, and I will cherish all of the genuine connections that I’ve built during my time at Iowa State,” Crooks wrote. “Words cannot fully express how grateful I feel to have called this place home.
“I want to thank my teammates for their friendship and all the great memories. … I still believe the grass is greener where you water it, and I’ve done that here.”
Now, Audi Crooks will aim to thrive in her new environment. Oklahoma finished the 2025-26 season with a 24-10 overall record.
The NCAA Transfer Portal officially opened on April 6 and closes on April 20. The new 15-day window was enacted following a recommendation by the women’s basketball oversight committee. Athletes don’t have to commit to a new school by the April 21 deadline.
To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire. The On3 Transfer Portal Instagram account and Twitter account are excellent resources to stay up to date with the latest moves.
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