AMES, Iowa (Interstat) — Iowa State outlasted Houston 70-67 in a pivotal Big 12 Conference men’s basketball game Monday night at Hilton Coliseum. A crowd of 14,267 saw the Cyclones, led by Joshua Jefferson’s 12 points and five assists, hold off a late Cougars rally.

Houston’s Kingston Flemings scored a game-high 22 points, and Emanuel Sharp added 16, but the Cougars could not overcome a 43-40 halftime deficit. Both teams are now 23-3 overall. Iowa State was more efficient, committing only three turnovers and posting an offensive rating of 124.0. Houston shot just 12 of 34 from three-point range in the loss.