The UCF Knights and Iowa State Cyclones continue Big 12 Conference men’s basketball action on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025, in Ames, Iowa.
Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. central on ESPN+. The Knights (12-5, 3-3 in Big 12) are unranked, while the Cyclones (15-2, 5-1 in Big 12) are currently listed at No. 3.
UCF has been better than most expected through the initial six games of conference play but enters yet another Top 10 matchup after losing a heartbreaker to the Houston Cougars on Saturday. Iowa State is coming off of a loss of their own, the first one in league play this season, being upset 64-57 by West Virginia.
Here is a preview of the game.
How to Watch UCF vs. Iowa State Basketball
Date: Saturday, January 21, 2025
Time: 8 p.m. CT
TV Channel: ESPN+
Site: Hilton Coliseum, Ames, Iowa
UCF vs. Iowa State Basketball Betting Odds, Lines
Opening Line: Iowa State -15.5
Current Line: Iowa State -16
Over/Under: 155.5
UCF vs. Iowa State Basketball Predictions
On Saturday, UCF came within striking distance of a signature win at home vs. No. 10 Houston. The Knights led the Cougars until the final possession of the game, when J’Wan Roberts connected on a game-winner from the left block, securing the sixth win of the conference season for Kelvin Sampson’s squad, 69-68. In the matchup, the trio of Moustapha Thiam, Jordan Ivy-Curry, and Darius Johnson did most of the team’s scoring.
On the opposite side of the court, Iowa State has been one of the nation’s best teams in 2024-25, having lost just two games this year. While the team has five scorers averaging more than double digits this season, the Cyclones have found a bonafide star in Buffalo transfer Curtis Jones. He’s averaging 17.8 points per game this year and has reached the 20-point scoring mark in three of his last four outings.
The biggest statistical difference in the game, besides the home and away disparity (Iowa State 10-0 at home), comes when dealing with Iowa State’s offense and UCF’s defense. The Cyclones check in as the league’s best-scoring offense at 83.8 points per game, while UCF checks in as the league’s worst defense, surrendering 77.4 points per game.
Iowa State 89, UCF 73
ESPN Matchup Predictor: Iowa State (92.2% Chance of Winning)
