Iowa
Iowa State basketball, 5 standout stats from win over Houston
AMES — A sea of gold erupted in celebration as Iowa State basketball senior Tamin Lipsey secured the game-sealing rebound, a fitting crescendo for a game that featured plenty of grit and grind between both the Cyclones and visiting Houston Cougars.
Every made shot was hard-earned and well-celebrated, and the same went for every effort play that helped piece together a massive win over the No. 2 Cougars on Feb. 16.
Iowa State overcame a 10-point deficit late and in an exchange of baskets, Nate Heise had the decisive 3-pointer to put the Cyclones in front. Joshua Jefferson added the final touch with a free throw to seal it.
Houston’s last-second heave was well short and the postgame celebrations and chorus of Mr. Brightside lyrics commenced. Iowa State won, 70-67.
Jefferson had 12 points, Heise added 11 points off the bench, while Blake Buchanan had 10 points.
For Houston, Kingston Flemings had a game-high 22 points.
Here are five standout stats from the win:
4 — Lead changes in the final 3:45
Houston’s Kingston Flemings had a 3-pointer to give the Cougars a 10-point lead, their largest of the game with 7:09 left.
Iowa State rumbled back with a 10-0 run, a stretch capped by Tamin Lipsey going 1-of-2 from the free-throw line. The game was knotted up at 63-63 each with 3:45 left, and the back-and-forth battle kept going through the final whistle.
Houston’s Chris Cenac Jr. was left by himself and got an easy basket to regain the lead.
Jamarion Batemon broke a 3-point shooting drought for Iowa State, after the Cyclones missed nine straight 3-pointers in the second half. Flemings knocked down a jumper that put Houston up, 67-66, with 1:49 to go.
Iowa State’s Nate Heise answered back with the go-ahead basket, a corner 3-pointer with the shot clock winding down to put Iowa State up, 69-67.
After a defensive stop, a missed front end of a one-and-one for added suspense — which was recovered by Tamin Lipsey — Joshua Jefferson added an insurance point for the Cyclones.
10 — Combined turnovers between Iowa State, Houston
Both teams are two of the top turnover-generating units in the entire country. The Cougars have also been one of the best teams at taking care of the ball offensively, boasting the second-lowest turnover rate in the country.
Despite immense pressure, bodies hitting the floor for loose balls, and a series of double teams and traps, the Cougars and Cyclones were able to minimize turnovers in this high-level contest.
Iowa State won the turnover battle, 7-3, and the few turnovers ISU was able to create helped fuel a 10-0 run that helped the Cyclones tie the game with 3:45 remaining. Iowa State was able to get two baskets off turnovers to keep the run going.
There were no easy baskets in transition or turnover opportunities. Everything came hard-earned.
Impressively, Iowa State only had three turnovers for the game, but the Cyclones didn’t log a single turnover in the final 18 minutes of action.
8 — Tamin Lipsey rebounds for Iowa State
Lipsey finished with a team-high eight rebounds, which is a tribute to his hustle and persistence.
The Cyclones lost the rebounding battle despite leading on the boards going into halftime. Houston came out of the break with a renewed effort and outrebounded the Cyclones 23-15 and finished with a 35-31 edge for the game.
Despite that, Lipsey had the boards that mattered. He had three offensive rebounds, including the key one at the end where he tracked the missed free throw and skied high.
34.4% — Houston second-half shooting percentage
After both teams shot more than 50% overall in the first half, both the Cyclones and Cougars cooled down after the halftime break.
Iowa State was able to slow down Houston and held the Cougars to shooting 11-of-32 (34.4%) overall in the second half, including a 5-of-18 showing from deep.
Emanuel Sharp dealt with foul trouble, but the Cyclones also defended well against Milos Uzan and Chris Cenac Jr.
22 — Points by Houston guard Kingston Flemings
The four-star recruit who became an immediate impact player and rapid stock-riser certainly lived up to the billing on Monday night.
Flemings, a 6-foot-4 guard who is mentioned in the top 10 of 2026 NBA mock drafts, was every bit impressive for the Cougars. His speed and swiftness applied a lot of pressure on the Cyclones’ defense, but he was also knocking down pull-up jumpers off the dribble and hitting 3-pointers at a high rate.
Flemings finished with 22 points on 9-of-15 shooting. He dealt most of his damage in the second half, when he went 3-for-4 from beyond the arc.
50% — Iowa State free-throw percentage
Had the Cyclones lost, it would have been the first area to make Iowa State fans think what-could-have-been.
Iowa State shot just 11-of-22 (50%) from the line, including a 2-of-7 mark in the second half.
You may also choose to look at this margin with a half-glass-full approach. Despite the Cyclones’ struggles at the free-throw line, they continued to be resilient and found another way to win and put away the game.
How much rain does Des Moines get? See the 5 wettest days on record
Wondering how the rainfall total compares? Here are the five wettest days on record for Des Moines, Iowa.
Drought conditions in Iowa improved for a second consecutive week, though areas of moderate drought expanded in parts of the state.
The U.S. Drought Monitor offers a state-by-state tracking of drought conditions nationwide. New maps and forecasts are released each Thursday. What are the current drought conditions in Iowa?
U.S. Drought Monitor map: How much of Iowa is in a drought?
The latest Drought Monitor report, released on Thursday, June 18, showed about 46% of Iowa experiencing some form of drought. This continues the streak of conditions improving week to week in Iowa. The previous report, released on June 11, showed that 63% of the state was experiencing some form of drought.
The most recent report reflects conditions as of 8 a.m. June 16, right as storms were sweeping through Iowa, with parts of eastern Iowa seeing more than 2 inches of rainfall. Light rainfall on June 17 led to areas like Iowa City and Burlington reporting around an inch of rain.
Here is the breakdown of current drought conditions in Iowa:
- 61% of the state of Iowa is experiencing no drought conditions
- 39% of Iowa is experiencing abnormally dry conditions
- 7% of Iowa is experiencing moderate drought conditions
- 0% of Iowa is experiencing severe drought conditions
Even though drought conditions have improved overall in Iowa, the area experiencing moderate drought increased from the week of June 11, particularly in northern Iowa. Much of Cerro Gordo, Hancock and Kossuth counties are under D1 conditions, with nearby Palo Alto, Winnebago, Floyd and Mitchell also in moderate drought.
Pockets of moderate drought also persist along the northwest edge of Iowa in Lyon, Sioux and Plymouth counties. In eastern Iowa, Jackson, Clinton and Scott counties saw their moderate drought status ease week to week.
Most of the U.S. is facing drought conditions
About 73% of the U.S. is experiencing some level of drought, a 2-percentage-point improvement from the prior week. Some of the most intense drought conditions are in the southeast and the mountain west.
Iowa Drought Monitor tracks conditions weekly
The U.S. Drought Monitor offers a state-by-state tracking of drought conditions nationwide. New maps and forecasts are released each Thursday.
The intensity levels range from abnormally dry, or D0, to exceptional drought, or D4.
Typically with D0 conditions, corn can show drought stress. Pond levels start to decline under moderate drought conditions and soybeans abort pods, according to the Drought Monitor. The Drought Monitor also has a look-back chart that compares drought conditions from 3 months ago up to 1 year ago.
Cooper Worth is a service/trending reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at cworth@gannett.com or follow him on X @CooperAWorth.
Confirmed tornadoes were reported in Illinois and Iowa Wednesday night as severe weather descended on a large swath of the Midwest.
According to the National Weather Service, a confirmed tornado was reported near the small northeast Iowa community of Harpers Ferry at 5:10 p.m., while a second confirmed tornado rolled through Charleston in central Illinois at about 6:40 p.m. local time.
Both tornadoes were flagged by the weather service as a “particularly dangerous situation,” a rare designation used by the weather service for environments in which “strong and violent tornadoes” are possible.
Photos and videos obtained by CBS News showed extensive damage in Charleston, with downed trees and power lines. Hail that measured 2.75 inches was also reported in the Charleston area, according to the weather service.
“There are a large number of trees blocking roadways throughout Charleston at this time,” Charleston police said in a Facebook post. “Unless it is an absolute emergency, do not drive or attempt to go anywhere.”
The city of Charleston later declared a local state of emergency.
One cell phone video captured the terrifying moments what appeared to be a large tornado tore through Effingham, Illinois, located about 40 miles southwest of Charleston.
Larry Thies, coordinator for the Effingham Emergency Management Agency, told CBS News that initial information indicated damaged buildings, trailers, and downed power lines and trees. He said officials were working to set up an emergency operations center, but were facing challenges because internet was down in the area.
The extent of the damage to region was still unclear. There was no immediate word of injuries or fatalities. CBS News senior meteorologist Rob Marciano said there were at least seven reported tornadoes during the weather event.
According to utility tracker PowerOutage.us, at least 55,000 customers were without power in Illinois.
Earlier Wednesday, Marciano reported that more than 125 million Americans were facing severe weather advisories, including the Gulf Coast states, which were under flood alerts due to Tropical Storm Arthur. Speaking on “CBS Evening News,” Marciano said such ripe tornado conditions were rare for June.
“This is unique for June, this is unusual to have such a strong jet stream just screaming across the country, then you’ve got the summertime tropical moisture coming in…and then some cold air coming in,” Marciano said. “And winds coming at different direction, at different levels, creating that spin. So what that equates to is really the high probability of seeing, not just tornadoes, but intense tornadoes of EF2 strength or higher on the ground for a long time. And also damaging winds at 75 mph or higher, and of course big time hail.”
When is Juneteenth and how is the holiday celebrated
Juneteenth is coming up. Here is what the holiday is about and how it’s celebrated.
It is a busy weekend in Iowa City as summer officially begins on Sunday. From Iowa City Pride and Juneteenth celebrations, there is no shortage of activity happening around town.
Here are four events to check out.
Enter the whimsical world of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ at Lower City Park
Thursday to Sunday: Riverside Theatre’s summer tradition, Shakespeare in the Park, has returned to Lower City Park. Catch a free performance of William Shakespeare’s iconic comedy, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” that follows the chaotic events of four entangled lovers and a troupe of actors wandering into a mystical forest. All of the free shows through the weekend start at 7:30 p.m.
Celebrate Juneteenth with live entertainment and community
Friday: The Black Voices Project and Dream City are teaming up to host the community-wide Juneteenth Celebration. At 1 p.m. Friday, June 19, at the South District Market Parking lot, enjoy live music from Kevin Burt, along with community presentations, activities for all ages, and a fashion showcase.
Show your pride at Iowa City Pride events
Saturday: Iowa City Pride is back for the 56th year. Principal events, the Pride Parade and Pride Festival, will start at noon on Saturday, June 20. The festival will be on the Ped Mall, and the parade will begin at College Green Park, working its way downtown along Iowa Avenue and East Washington Street. The festival runs from 12 to 9 p.m.
Catch a romantic comedy under the stars at FilmScene in the Park
Saturday: FilmScene in the Park returns at 9:15 p.m., Saturday, June 20, with a screening of the cult classic “13 Going on 30″ at Chauncey Swan Park. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Concessions, including beer and wine, will be available 30 minutes before the film begins.
Jessica Rish is an entertainment, dining and education reporter for the Iowa City Press-Citizen. She can be reached at JRish@press-citizen.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @rishjessica_
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