Kelvin Sampson Praises Iowa State Following Houston’s Loss

Houston Cougars head coach Kelvin Sampson expressed significant respect for Iowa State and its program following a narrow 70-67 road loss on Monday, February 16, 2026. Despite the defeat, which dropped Houston to a 23-3 overall record, Sampson highlighted the quality of the Iowa State program and the challenging atmosphere at Hilton Coliseum.

Sampson’s Postgame Remarks

After the game, Sampson shared his thoughts on X (formerly Twitter), as reported by 247Sports’ Alec Busse. He stated, “We have a ton of respect for T.J. Otzelberger, his program and this fanbase. I don’t know what it looked like on TV, but any time you get Hilton Coliseum on TV that is good for the Substantial 12.” Source

Focus on Conference Pride

Sampson intentionally framed his comments to emphasize the positive impact of Hilton Coliseum and the broader benefits of strong environments within the Big 12 conference, rather than using the venue as an excuse for the Cougars’ loss. This approach underscored his commitment to promoting the conference’s national exposure and high level of competition. Source

Game Details

The No. 2 ranked Houston Cougars suffered a late collapse against the No. 6 Iowa State Cyclones, who closed the game on a 17-4 run. A key three-pointer from Nate Heise with 1:17 remaining gave Iowa State the lead, and a subsequent turnover by Houston sealed their fate. Source

Looking Ahead

Despite the loss, Houston remains a strong contender in the national championship conversation. The competitive road loss is not expected to significantly harm their NCAA Tournament resume and could potentially strengthen it. Source