Iowa

Iowa State basketball vs. Houston prediction, game preview

Published

4 months ago

February 15, 2026

Iowa State basketball vs. Houston prediction, game preview

The win over Kansas was an exciting one for Iowa State men’s basketball, but the Cyclones are already on to the next one.

There was hardly any time to soak in the Saturday, Feb. 14 victory over the ninth-ranked Jayhawks, as there will be a quick turnaround into another marquee matchup.

Iowa State will host No. 3 Houston on Monday, Feb. 16. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on ESPN as part of its “Big Monday” showcase.

The Cyclones (22-3, 9-3 Big 12 Conference) enjoyed a resounding 74-56 win over Kansas in a rematch, after dropping the earlier meeting against the Jayhawks on Jan. 13.

Reigning Big 12 regular-season and tournament champion Houston (23-2, 11-1) enters with a six-game winning streak and is currently in first place within the conference standings. The Cougars defeated Kansas State in their previous game on Feb. 14. At one point, they had a 28-4 run to finish the first half and went on to win 78-64.

Here are three things to watch for in Monday’s game:

Houston freshman Kingston Flemings, one of the biggest stock risers

Kingston Flemings certainly wasn’t an unknown coming out of high school.

The top-ranked recruit from Texas in his class, Flemings entered college as a five-star guard and the No. 16 overall prospect, according to 247 Sports.

However, he wasn’t on any NBA mock drafts before the start of the 2025-26 college basketball campaign, or even in the early parts of the season.

All that has quickly changed over the course of his freshman year.

Flemings has turned plenty of heads with his play this season. The 6-foot-4 guard is averaging 16.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.8 steals per game, while shooting 50.7% overall and 36.5% from deep.

A shifty, speedy guard, Flemings is a weapon in transition, but he also has the quick burst to get past his defender in half-court sets. He is a crafty and smart guard who is calculated when it comes to pulling up in the mid-range or taking shots at the basket. He is a good facilitator and can occasionally take-and-make 3-pointers when left open.

His best showing came in a 42-point outing in a 90-86 loss at Texas Tech on Jan. 24. He also had six assists, two steals and two turnovers.

His speed and quickness seamlessly translate over to the defensive end. He is a perfect fit in Sampson’s scheme and he has the quick hands and physical tools to wreak havoc on that end of the court.

Iowa State basketball coach TJ Otzelberger on win over Kansas

Iowa State basketball coach TJ Otzelberger on the Cyclones’ win over Kansas in the Feb. 14 rematch.

Houston’s dominance on both sides of the ball

There might not be enough words to describe the continuity and success that Kelvin Sampson has been able to establish at Houston, especially since the start of the decade.

The Cougars were dominant in the tail end of their stay in the American Athletic Conference, and they never missed a beat since coming to the Big 12. They’ve reached at least the Sweet 16 in each of their last six NCAA Tournaments, with two Final Four appearances, including a national runner-up finish last year.

A large part of that success is attributed to its defensive style of play under Sampson. However, in each of the last six years, the Cougars have exceled on both ends of the court. According to KenPom, they’ve ranked in the top 20 for both offensive and defensive efficiency.

Houston ranks No. 12 in offensive efficiency and No. 6 for defensive efficiency.

Guards Emanuel Sharp, Milos Uzan and Joseph Tugler are key returners from last year.

Tugler, a 6-foot-8 forward, is a defensive stalwart. The reigning Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year is contributing a tad more on the scoring end, but he remains a hard-working player on the court.

Sharp, a three-year starter at Houston, has built off of his postseason success last season – which included Big 12 Tournament MVP and NCAA Tournament Midwest Region Most Outstanding Player honors – with his best year yet. He is averaging 16.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.2 steals per game.

Uzan remains a productive starter for the Cougars, but his shooting percentages have dropped since last season. He is averaging 11.2 points and 3.9 assists per game, but he is shooting 38.0% overall and 32.6% from deep.

Aside from Flemings, Chris Cenac Jr. has also carved out a starting role as a freshman. The 6-foot-11 New Orleans native is averaging 9.7 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. Former five-star recruit Isiah Harwell is one of the Cyclones’ go-to players off the bench. He’s still raw, but the Cougars believe in the freshman guard’s upside.

Iowa State basketball coach TJ Otzelberger on Pleta, Buchanan

Iowa State basketball coach TJ Otzelberger shared his thoughts on the play of big men Dominykas Pleta and Blake Buchanan against Kansas.

The turnover, rebounding battle

Houston and Iowa State are two defense-first teams that take great pride in their all-out effort and physical style of play. They both try to wear their opponents down, be disruptive, and generate turnovers.

Both teams have also exceled on the offensive glass this season. The Cyclones and Cougars are in the top 20 nationally for offensive rebounding rate. Iowa State secures 37.3% of offensive rebounding chances, while Houston is right behind at 37.0%. Tugler and Cenac are both strong rebounders for the Cougars. Cenac is tough on the glass on both ends, while Tugler is one of the top offensive rebounders in the country. He has the second-highest offensive rebounding rate in the Big 12.

The Cyclones rank No. 5 in defensive efficiency. In their recent win over Kansas, they returned to form on the defensive end by keeping Kansas to a season-low 56 points. They set the tone early with their ability to generate turnovers. Perhaps Hilton Magic played a role, but they were able to pressure the Jayhawks, make them uncomfortable and create scoring opportunities off turnovers.

Iowa State generates turnovers on 22.4% of opponents’ possessions, the eighth-highest rate in the country.

Houston is stingy across the board, holding opponents to an effective field goal percentage of 46.0% this year. Houston remains one of the most disruptive teams around, with a turnover rate of 22.6%, the fifth-best mark in the country. The Cougars also take great care of the ball, with the second-lowest turnover rate.

Iowa State basketball vs. Houston prediction

Home-court advantage will help the Cyclones, but they’ll need to execute against a team that prides itself on making opponents uncomfortable. The team that can get defensive stops and create more extra possessions will be in better shape to win this Big Monday marquee matchup. If you like grit and grind, there will be plenty of that when Iowa State-Houston squares off. Prediction: Iowa State 69, Houston 65

Eugene Rapay covers Iowa State athletics for the Des Moines Register. Contact Eugene at erapay@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @erapay5.

Source link

Click to comment

Iowa

Blocked Iowa HHS director resigns but is appointed deputy director

Published

55 minutes ago

June 20, 2026

Press Room

Blocked Iowa HHS director resigns but is appointed deputy director

Iowa’s director of Health and Human Services has resigned after the Iowa Senate blocked his confirmation in April, but he will stay in leadership as deputy director.

Larry Johnson was appointed to succeed Iowa Department of Health and Human Services Director Kelly Garcia in September 2025. Johnson took over the department in October.

Johnson’s confirmation in April, however, was blocked by Iowa Senate Democrats. Johnson received the support of 28 senators, six votes short of the 34 needed.

“Hundreds of thousands of Iowans rely on the Department of Health & Human Services, but under Mr. Johnson’s leadership, those Iowans have been met with diminished care and services and a disrespectful lack of transparency and communication,” Iowa Senate Democratic Leader Janice Weiner said in a statement at the time of Johnson’s confirmation block. “Senate Democrats believe Iowans deserve more responsible leadership for such an important executive department.”

Under state law, 60 days after the Iowa Senate disapproves a person’s appointment, the nominee must step down. Johnson’s resignation came June 19, 58 days after his confirmation was blocked.

In a news release Friday, Gov. Kim Reynolds appointed Kraig Paulsen, the director of the Iowa Department of Management, to also serve as the director of Iowa Health and Human Services.

“This is not the first time I’ve called upon Director Paulsen to help lead executive branch departments during times of transition,” Reynolds said in a statement. “His experience across state government is unmatched, and I have full confidence in his ability to ensure our state’s largest agency has the leadership team required, not only to serve Iowans most in need of assistance, but also to advance strategic initiatives such as rural health transformation, cancer research, and child welfare technology improvements.”

Paulsen named Johnson as principal deputy director of the department to “ensure efficient and effective operations,” according to the release.

“Iowa HHS requires strong and experienced leadership at every level to ensure continuity of critical services such as Medicaid, SNAP, and child protection, and Larry Johnson is exactly that leader,” Paulsen said in the release. “I look forward to working closely with Principal Deputy Director Johnson to ensure Iowa’s strong commitment to our most vulnerable citizens continues as usual.”

Weiner, in a statement issued June 19, said Reynolds “has decided to blatantly disregard and circumvent the Senate in re-establishing Larry Johnson as the de facto head” of Health and Human Services.“This is partisan politics of the worst kind,” Weiner said in the statement. “Under Larry Johnson, the hundreds of thousands of Iowans who rely on HHS for critical services have received a diminished standard of care, a disrespectful lack of responsiveness, and a department more concerned with fealty to the governor than transparency to the public. And yet, this governor simply cannot handle a world in which she doesn’t get her way, so she has invented a title that allows Johnson to resume his work.”

Weiner said the decision to not confirm John was “not made lightly,” and “We did what was right for Iowans.”

“Our goal has been and remains to work within the bounds of the Senate for the benefit of all Iowans,” Weiner said. “Unfortunately, Gov. Reynolds would rather play politics than give Iowans the respect of a more diligent search for a qualified candidate.”

Kyle Werner is the breaking news and public safety reporter for the Register. Reach him at kwerner@registermedia.com.

Source link

Iowa

Iowa Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 3 Midday results for June 19, 2026

Published

11 hours ago

June 20, 2026

Press Room

The Iowa Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big with rewards ranging from $1,000 to millions. The most an Iowan has ever won from playing the lottery was $343 million in 2018 off the Powerball.

Don’t miss out on the winnings. Here’s a look at Friday, June 19, 2026, winning numbers for each game:

Winning Mega Millions numbers from June 19 drawing

13-16-21-26-50, Mega Ball: 12

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick-3 numbers from June 19 drawing

Midday: 3-2-2

Evening: 7-1-4

Check Pick-3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick-4 numbers from June 19 drawing

Midday: 4-2-1-0

Evening: 9-9-0-7

Check Pick-4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from June 19 drawing

02-20-28-51-54, Bonus: 02

Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

When are the Iowa Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10:00 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
Lotto America: 9:15 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Lucky for Life: 9:38 p.m. CT daily.
Pick 3 (Day): 12:20 p.m. CT daily.
Pick 3 (Evening): 10:00 p.m. CT daily.
Pick 4 (Day): 12:20 p.m. CT daily.
Pick 4 (Evening): 10:00 p.m. CT daily.
Millionaire for Life: 10:15 p.m. CT daily.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by an Iowa editor. You can send feedback using this form.

Source link

Iowa

Reynolds orders flags lowered for funeral of Iowa Sen. Julian Garrett

Published

22 hours ago

June 19, 2026

Press Room

Reynolds orders flags lowered for funeral of Iowa Sen. Julian Garrett

DES Moines, Iowa — Gov. Kim Reynolds has ordered all flags in Iowa to be lowered to half-staff Saturday in honor of state Sen. Julian Garrett, who died June 8 at the age of 85.

Flags will be flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset June 20, the day of Garrett’s funeral, on the Iowa Capitol Building and across the Capitol Complex. The order also applies to all public buildings, grounds and facilities throughout the state.

Garrett served 16 years in the Iowa Legislature, first representing House District 55 from 2011 to 2013 before serving in the Iowa Senate through the 2026 legislative session.

In addition to his legislative service, Garrett was a farmer, attorney and former employee of the Iowa Attorney General’s Office.

“Sen. Garrett was a friend who served our state with integrity — whether as a cattle producer, a Little League coach, an attorney in the executive branch, or a legislator,” Reynolds said in a statement. “For 15 years, we worked together to unleash opportunities for the Iowans we served, and his impact will be felt for generations to come.”

Reynolds is encouraging individuals, businesses, schools, municipalities, counties and other government entities to lower their flags to half-staff during the same time period as a sign of respect.

Garrett represented southwest Iowa in the Legislature and was known for his work on judiciary and agriculture-related issues during his tenure at the Statehouse.

Source link