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Three observations and a quote as No. 5 Texas beats Iowa State in Big 12 basketball game

Published

2 years ago

February 17, 2024

Three observations and a quote as No. 5 Texas beats Iowa State in Big 12 basketball game

Four Longhorns — Madison Booker, Shaylee Gonzales, Shay Holle and Aaliyah Moore — scored at least 12 points and No. 5 Texas extended its winning streak to six games with an 80-61 win over Iowa State at Moody Center on Saturday. The victory kept Texas (24-3, 11-3) in the running for the Big 12 championship.

Here are three observations and a quote from the Longhorns’ 19-point triumph:

Texas takes control during the second quarter

When a media timeout was called with 4:37 left in the second quarter, Texas found itself down 31-30. Less than five minutes later, the Longhorns rolled into halftime with an 11-point lead.

So, how did Texas go from facing a one-point deficit to holding a 44-33 edge? Booker scored six points in a 66-second span, and UT also got buckets from Moore, Gonzales and DeYona Gaston as well as a Taylor Jones free throw. Defensively, Texas forced two turnovers while limiting Iowa State to a 1-for-8 shooting performance.

Iowa State was unable to get any closer than five points in the second half against Texas, which outscored the Cyclones 23-10 in the fourth quarter.

Two of the Big 12’s top freshmen go head-to-head

Saturday’s game featured the only two players to win three Big 12 freshman of the week awards this season. Booker, the Texas point guard, and Iowa State center Audi Crooks had also each been recognized once as the Big 12 player of the week.

Since both players played well on Wednesday — Booker scored 23 points in a 82-66 rout of Houston while Crooks had 20 points and nine rebounds in a double-overtime takedown of No. 7 Kansas State — another weekly award was possibly on the line on Saturday. Perhaps either Booker or Crooks would also emerge as the clear frontrunner for Big 12 freshman of the year.

In addition to the win, Booker recorded her second double-double performance of the season. She had 18 points, which matched Gonzales’ team-high total. She also distributed a career-high 10 assists while committing only two turnovers. In the fourth quarter, she earned perhaps her biggest cheers when she loudly blocked a shot by Iowa State’s Addy Brown.

“Madison Booker is skilled, very mature beyond her age,” Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly said. “The game doesn’t speed up for her and you got to give her a lot of credit and their coaches for, you know, she’s had to make a position adjustment without Rori (Harmon).”

Added Fennelly: “It’s a bad comparison, but since I’m in Texas, she’s got a little Kevin Durant in her. Got a fadeaway, jumper, can do a lot of things. Very impressive on film and a lot more impressive sitting on the bench watching her play.” That comparison may be apt for Booker, who wears the No. 35 because of Durant.

Crooks held her own over the 33 minutes that she played. The 6-foot-3 newcomer shot 10-for-19 from the field and led all scorers with 24 points.

“She’s got a great career in front of her,” Texas coach Vic Schaefer said. “She is hard to deal with.”

Texas, two others pull within one game of Oklahoma

The Big 12 race can now be considered a sprint to the finish. Oklahoma entered this weekend with a two-game lead over Kansas State, Texas and West Virginia, but the Sooners (18-7, 12-2) were beaten on the road by West Virginia (22-3, 11-3) on Saturday. That means that lead over the Longhorns, Mountaineers and a Wildcats team that beat Central Florida is down to one game.

Each of those four teams must play four more games in the regular season. The key games down the stretch will be West Virginia’s trip to Kansas State (22-4, 11-3) next Wednesday and Oklahoma’s home game against Texas on Feb. 28.

“You can’t take anything for granted right now, especially in this league with so many good teams. Anything can happen on any given night, so it’s really just one game at a time, focus on who’s next,” said Holle, whose team will host Texas Tech this upcoming Wednesday.

Texas and Oklahoma split the Big 12 championship last year. West Virginia won its last conference championship in 2014 and it’s been 16 years since Kansas State was last crowned.

They said it: Shaylee gets back to scoring

“I tried to focus on being more aggressive. I feel like that really helped me and just driving it to the basket,” — Shaylee Gonzales.

Her 18 points were a conference-high total this season for the sixth-year guard. Gonzales had been limited to 13 points over her last four games despite playing 124 minutes in those contests. Against Iowa State, she made eight of her 15 shots and knocked down two 3-pointers within 40 seconds of each other in the first quarter.

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Where Iowa State basketball stands in NCAA Tournament bracketology

Published

8 hours ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

Where Iowa State basketball stands in NCAA Tournament bracketology

We’re heading down the homestretch.

Iowa State men’s basketball has two regular-season games left, followed by the Big 12 Tournament.

Iowa State enters the final week of the regular season with a 24-5 overall record and an 11-5 mark in Big 12 action.

The Cyclones have a NCAA Tournament resume-bolstering opportunity on Monday, March 2 with a road game against Arizona, before wrapping up the regular-season on Saturday, March 7 against Arizona State.

Plenty can still change with bracketology from now until Selection Sunday on March 15, but here is where experts are projecting Iowa State to land in the NCAA Tournament entering the final week of the regular season:

Iowa State basketball’s computer metrics as of Tuesday

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

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Iowa Lottery Pick 3 Midday, Pick 3 Evening results for March 1, 2026

Published

20 hours ago

March 2, 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 Sunday, March 1, 2026, winning numbers for each game:

Winning Pick-3 numbers from March 1 drawing

Midday: 6-9-4

Evening: 4-2-5

Check Pick-3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick-4 numbers from March 1 drawing

Midday: 1-7-4-8

Evening: 7-6-9-1

Check Pick-4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from March 1 drawing

10-11-12-35-56, Bonus: 04

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.

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Nebraska Men’s Basketball’s Week Ahead: Crucial Games at UCLA and Home vs. Iowa

Published

1 day ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Nebraska Men’s Basketball’s Week Ahead: Crucial Games at UCLA and Home vs. Iowa

Nebraska men’s basketball faces a critical week that will determine its Big Ten Conference and NCAA Tournament seeding.

The Huskers play at UCLA on Tuesday night and finish the regular season next Sunday at home vs. Iowa.

The Huskers are currently tied for second place in the Big Ten with Michigan State. Both teams have four conference losses. They are one game in the loss column ahead of Illinois and Purdue, with five losses. Wisconsin has six losses.

The top four teams earn the coveted triple bye for the Big Ten Tournament. Regular-season champion Michigan has one spot locked up.

Here are the remaining schedules of the contenders for the triple bye, with conference record in parentheses:

Nebraska (14-4)
* Tuesday: at UCLA
* Sunday: vs. Iowa

Michigan State (13-4)
* Sunday: at Indiana
* Thursday: vs. Rutgers
* Sunday, March 8: at Michigan

Illinois (13-5)
* Tuesday: vs. Oregon
* Sunday, March 8: at Maryland

Purdue (12-5)
* Sunday: at Ohio State
* Wednesday: at Northwestern
* Saturday: vs. Wisconsin

Wisconsin (12-6)
* Wednesday: vs. Maryland
* Saturday: at Purdue

Maintaining an NCAA seed no worse than 3 should benefit the Huskers, who wouldn’t have to play, theoretically, the No. 1 seed until the Elite Eight game.

It’s a ton to play for in the final week of a historic regular season for Nebraska. But that’s what March is all about.

Nebraska at UCLA

When: Tuesday, 10 p.m. CT
Where: Pauley Pavilion, Los Angeles
Records: Nebraska, 25-4, 14-4 in Big Ten; UCLA, 19-10, 11-7 in Big Ten
TV: FS1

Rankings updated based on games through Saturday.

UCLA rankings

* Associated Press Top 25: Not ranked
* NCAA Net Ratings: 40
* USA Today Coaches Poll: Not ranked
* Kenpom.com: 41
* ESPN Power Index: 34
* Top 25 and 1: Not ranked
* Team Rankings.com: 41

In Joe Lunardi’s latest Bracketology projections for ESPN, UCLA is a 9-seed for the 68-team NCAA Tournament. The next Bracketology will be released Tuesday.

Nebraska rankings

* Associated Press Top 25: 12
* NCAA Net Ratings: 12
* USA Today Coaches Poll: 10
* Kenpom.com: 11
* ESPN Power Index: 15
* Top 25 and 1: 8
* Team Rankings.com: 11

In Joe Lunardi’s latest Bracketology projections for ESPN, Nebraska is a 3-seed for the 68-team NCAA Tournament.

Nebraska-UCLA analysis

The Bruins are coming off a strange week. They crushed visiting rival USC, 81-62, on Tuesday, then lost at Minnesota, 78-73, on Saturday.

UCLA is 16-1 at home, its only loss to Indiana, 98-97, in double overtime on Jan. 31.

The game will be a homecoming for Huskers forward Berke Buyuktuncel, who played at UCLA in 2023-24, his freshman season. Buyuktuncel has started 27 games and averages 6.7 points and 5.6 rebounds per game this season for the Huskers and frequently earns praise from coach Fred Hoiberg.

Nebraska thoroughly dispatched USC on Saturday, 82-67, an impressive performance on the road against a Trojans team desperate for a statement win to help — or save — their NCAA hopes.

Pryce Sandfort scored 32 points — one short of his career high — as the Huskers won their 14th conference game, a school record. Nebraska is 7-2 on the road in conference games.

This should be a great matchup — UCLA a strong team playing at home vs. a Nebraska team playing well and full of confidence. This feels like a one-possession game.

Nebraska guard Sam Hoiberg goes to the basket as Iowa forward Cooper Koch defends during the first meeting in Iowa City. | Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

Iowa at Nebraska

When: Sunday, March 8, 4 p.m. CT
Where: Pinnacle Bank Arena
Records: Nebraska, 25-4, 14-4 in Big Ten; Iowa, 20-9, 10-8 in Big Ten
TV: Fox

Rankings updated based on games through Saturday.

Iowa rankings

* Associated Press Top 25: 33
* NCAA Net Ratings: 28
* USA Today Coaches Poll: 30
* Kenpom.com: 24
* ESPN Power Index: 35
* Top 25 and 1: Not ranked
* Team Rankings.com: 31

In Joe Lunardi’s latest Bracketology projections for ESPN, Iowa is an 8-seed for the 68-team NCAA Tournament.

Nebraska rankings

* Associated Press Top 25: 12
* NCAA Net Ratings: 12
* USA Today Coaches Poll: 10
* Kenpom.com: 11
* ESPN Power Index: 15
* Top 25 and 1: 8
* Team Rankings.com: 11

In Joe Lunardi’s latest Bracketology projections for ESPN, Nebraska is a 3-seed for the 68-team NCAA Tournament.

Nebraska forward Braden Frager defends a fast-break layup attempt by Iowa guard Bennett Stirtz in the teams’ first meeting on Feb. 17. | Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Nebraska-Iowa analysis

The Hawkeyes are coming off a puzzling, 71-69 loss at Penn State on Saturday. Iowa led 67-62 with 3:49 to play, and then scored only one more basket. Iowa plays host to Michigan on Thursday.

Nebraska will get a final curtain call at Pinnacle Bank Arena, where the Huskers are 15-2.

Nebraska should have revenge on its mind after losing at Iowa, 57-52, on Feb. 17, in Sandfort’s return to Iowa City, where he played for two seasons.

Whatever Nebraska nerves were a factor at Iowa shouldn’t be in play at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Nebraska shot only 21 percent from distance in Iowa City. Sandfort scored 13 points, his lowest total since Jan. 10, when he scored 12 at Indiana.

Iowa’s Bennett Stirtz scored 25 points. That won’t happen in this game. Neither will Nebraska’s ice-cold shooting from distance, especially if the game could determine the triple bye for the Huskers.

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