STILLWATER, Okla. (Interstat) — A dominant first-half performance by Milan Momcilovic and the Iowa State Cyclones proved too much for a furious Oklahoma State rally to overcome, as the visitors secured an 84-71 victory in a Big 12 Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at Gallagher-Iba Arena.

The Cyclones, now 18-2 overall, built a staggering 30-point halftime lead behind a blistering offensive display, then withstood a second-half surge from the Cowboys that cut the deficit to single digits before Iowa State closed the game at the free-throw line. Oklahoma State fell to 14-6.

The most important part of the game was the first half, a period of near-total Iowa State control. The Cyclones raced out to a 51-21 lead by intermission, shooting 51.4% from the field and hitting 7 of 15 three-pointers while holding the Cowboys to just 21 points on 26.7% shooting. The 30-point cushion allowed Iowa State to absorb Oklahoma State’s inevitable second-half push.

Momcilovic, a 6-foot-8 sophomore from Pewaukee, Wisconsin, was the catalyst for the early onslaught. He scored 20 of his game-high 29 points before halftime, showcasing his versatile scoring with three first-half three-pointers. He finished the game playing 38 minutes, adding three assists and going a perfect 6-for-6 from the free-throw line.

His frontcourt partner, Joshua Jefferson, provided a powerful inside complement. The 6-foot-8 forward from Las Vegas scored 20 points, with 15 coming in the first half, as the Cyclones established a 28-22 advantage in points in the paint early.

Oklahoma State emerged from the locker room a transformed team, applying intense defensive pressure that forced 11 of Iowa State’s 17 total turnovers in the second half. The Cowboys opened the period on a 28-10 run, fueled by guards Kanye Clary and Jaylen Curry, to trim the Cyclones’ lead to 61-49 with just over 11 minutes remaining.

Clary, a Virginia Beach native, scored all 19 of his points after halftime, while Curry, from Charlotte, North Carolina, added 19 points, three assists and a block. The Cowboys’ full-court pressure generated 25 points off turnovers for the game, compared to 15 for Iowa State.

Each time Oklahoma State threatened to draw closer, however, Iowa State found a critical response. After the Cowboys cut the lead to 12, Momcilovic hit a three-pointer. When Oklahoma State pulled within 65-56 with under eight minutes left, Tamin Lipsey answered with a driving layup. Lipsey, the Ames native, finished with 13 points and five assists.

The Cowboys ultimately could not overcome their frigid start or Iowa State’s efficiency. The Cyclones scored 84 points on 70 possessions, an offensive rating of 120.3, by shooting 51% from the field and 42.3% from three-point range. Oklahoma State, despite its second-half rally, managed only 71 points on its 70 possessions, shooting 39.3% overall and 30% from deep.

Iowa State also won at the free-throw line, making 21 of 27 attempts, while Oklahoma State hit 18 of 23. Blake Buchanan contributed nine points and several key rebounds for the Cyclones, and Killyan Toure added 10 points. For Oklahoma State, Ryan Crotty scored nine points, all on three-pointers, and Parsa Fallah had six points and a game-high 11 rebounds.

The game was a rematch from just two weeks prior, when Iowa State defeated Oklahoma State 83-71 in Ames. The Cyclones have now won four of their last five games. Oklahoma State, which had won two of its last three, saw a two-game home winning streak snapped.

Iowa State will host Colorado on Thursday. Oklahoma State travels to play at Utah next Saturday.

Attendance was 6,280.