The third ranked Iowa State men overcame a sluggish first half, Monday, and beat Houston Christian 89-61 in Ames. Joshua Jefferson led the way with 23 points, Blake Buchanan scored 16 points and added 11 rebounds as ISU moved to 13-0.

The Cyclones open Big-12 play at home on Friday night against West Virginia.

The UNI men took control down the stretch to grind out a 58-48 win Monday, over Valparaiso in the McLeod Center. The Panthers limited Valpo to just 29 percent shooting, including three-of-23 from three point range. The Panthers move to 2-0 in the Valley.

That’s UNI coach Ben Jacobson, who remains concerned about defensive rebounding. Valpo had 12 offensive rebounds in the game.

Will Hornseth led the Panthers by tying his career high with 16 points.

Bennett Stirtz had 22 points and the 25th ranked Iowa men shot 58 percent in a 90-62 win over UMass-Lowell in Iowa City. Stirtz made seven-of-13 shots and dished out eight assists as the Hawkeyes improve to 11-2.

That’s Iowa coach Ben McCollum, who was happy with the way his team returned from Christmas break.

Junior forward Cam Manyawu had 14 points and nine rebounds. The Hawkeyes return to Big Ten action on Saturday by hosting UCLA.

Manyawu says Saturday’s game will match teams that pride themselves on defense.

The Drake women outscored Illinois-Chicago 22-12 in the third quarter, today (Monday) to take control in a 78-62 victory in Chicago. Senior guard Abbie Aalsma had a career high 30 as the Bulldogs move to 2-0 in the Missouri Valley Conference.

The Bulldogs were 12-of-23 from three point range and also had 29 assists. Drake coach Allison Pohlman.

An Iowa defense that ranks sixth nationally by giving up less than 15 points per game faces a big challenge in Wednesday’s ReliaQuest Bowl against 14th ranked Vanderbilt. Led by Heisman Trophy finalist Diego Pavia at quarterback, the Commodores are averaging more than 39 points per game in posting a 10-2 record. Pavia has passed for nearly 32 hundred yards and has also added more than 800 yards of rushing.

That’s Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz, who says Pavia is at his best when he scrambles.

Ferentz says the trick for the defense will be getting pressure on Pavia without giving up big plays.

Iowa middle linebacker Jayden Montgomery says Pavia has the ability to dominate a game.

Montgomery says Pavia’s ability to run makes him extra dangerous.

Iowa safety Xavier Nwankpa on the challenge Pavia will provide…*

The 23rd ranked Hawkeyes are 8-4.

The 14th ranked Iowa Hawkeye women used a 16-0 first quarter run to take command and beat Penn State 99-76 in Iowa City. Sophomore center Ava Heiden had a career-high 27 while point guard Chit Chat Wright had 12 of her 16 points in the opening quarter.

The Hawkeyes put the game away in the third quarter and led by as many 25 points in the second half as they move to 2-0 in the Big Ten and 11-2 overall.

That’s Iowa coach Jan Jensen.

Iowa return specialist Kaden Wetjen has gone from walk-on to consensus All-American. The native of Williamsburg will play his final game in a Hawkeye uniform on New Year’s Even against 14th ranked Vanderbilt in the ReliaQuest Bowl. He leads the nation with 965 return yards this season.

Wetjen was hoping to have an impact after transferring from Iowa Western Community College.

Wetjen says it was his second season with the Hawkeyes that served as a breakthrough.

The third ranked Iowa State men close out non-conference play at home on Monday night by hosting Houston Christian. The Cyclones are 12-0 and coach T.J. Otzelberger says this is a good time of year to focus on improvement.

Otzelberger says while happy with the start the Cyclones know the road ahead will get tougher.

Houston Christian is 5-7 and Craig Doty is in his second season leading the Huskies. Doty led Graceland to an NAIA national title in 2018.

The 25th ranked Iowa Hawkeye men close out non-conference action with a Monday afternoon game at home against UMass-Lowell. Iowa coach Ben McCollum says after a short holiday break the Hawkeyes returned to practice on Friday.

Iowa is 10-2. UMass-Lowell enters the game with a record of 5-9.

McCollum was asked if the non-conference schedule has helped his team.

It will be a four o’clock tip off in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

The third ranked Iowa State men returned to the practice floor after the Christmas break. The Cyclones have their final pre-conference tune up on Monday night when they host Houston Christian.

That’s Cyclone coach T.J. Otzelberger, who feels the time off was good for the players.

Otzelberger says while happy with their 12-0 start they know the challenges will get tougher with Big-12 play approaching.