Long Beach State Beach vs Iowa State Cyclones Picks and Predictions for Sunday, December 21, 2025
Long Beach State Beach and No. 4 Iowa State Cyclones meet on Sunday evening at Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa, with tip-off at 6:00 PM ET on ESPN+. Iowa State enters unbeaten at 11-0 and has been dominant at home, while Long Beach State arrives at 3-9 and is still searching for consistency away from home. ESPN Analytics gives the Cyclones a massive edge due to the difference in talent between the two. Big board, bigger value — see our winning college basketball predictions.
Long Beach State Preview
Long Beach State has performed average offensively, averaging 73.0 points per game while shooting 44 percent from the field. Gavin Sykes leads the Beach with 17.6 points per game and shoots 46.7 percent from the floor, giving Long Beach State a reliable scoring option on the wing. Petar Majstorovic adds balance inside with 14.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, and his activity on the glass helps keep possessions alive. The Beach have managed a pair of close wins recently, including an 81-78 victory over Pepperdine, but late-game execution has been an issue.
The bigger concern for Long Beach State has been on the defensive end, where the team allows 78.2 points per game. Opponents have found success shooting efficiently and pushing tempo, especially when the Beach are on the road. Assists and turnovers have been an issue, with just 12.8 assists per game compared to 12.1 turnovers. Against a disciplined Iowa State group, those numbers point to long stretches where scoring droughts could pile up.
Iowa State Preview
Iowa State has been sharp on both ends of the floor, averaging 90.5 points per game while holding opponents to 63.3. Milan Momcilovic and Joshua Jefferson both average 17.5 points per game, giving the Cyclones multiple scoring threats who can hurt defenses in different ways. Iowa State shoots 53 percent from the field and over 40 percent from three-point range, numbers that underline how difficult it is to defend the Cyclones. The win over Iowa and a road blowout at Purdue highlight how steady this group has been.
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Ball movement has been a major strength for Iowa State, with 18.4 assists per game and strong rebounding at 35.4 per contest. Joshua Jefferson’s 5.0 assists per game help keep the offense organized, while the Cyclones force 11.0 steals per game to fuel transition scoring. At Hilton Coliseum, Iowa State has controlled the pace and rarely allowed underdogs to hang around. The Cyclones’ ability to pressure the ball and still shoot efficiently creates separation early.
Iowa State vs Long Beach State Prediction
The prediction here favors Iowa State comfortably. Long Beach State has offensive pieces, but the gap in efficiency and depth is significant. Expect Iowa State to control the tempo, force turnovers, and build a steady lead. Final score projection is Iowa State 88, Long Beach State 62.
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