Memphis upsets No. 18 Iowa State in season opener

The Memphis Tigers secured a major upset against No. 18 Iowa State, winning 80-76 in their season opener at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. This victory marks the first time Memphis has defeated a ranked opponent in a season opener since 1995.

Jayden Reid led Memphis with 26 points, including critical late-game scoring to secure the win. Luke Almodovar contributed 18 points, including nine from three-point range, while Rihards Vavers added 15 points. For Iowa State, Ryan Prather Jr. scored 19 points, and Dominykas Pleta recorded 15.

The game was characterized by physical play, with 50 combined fouls called and 65 free throw attempts. Despite dominating the paint and bench scoring, the Cyclones struggled with long-range shooting, connecting on only 20 percent of their three-point attempts. The loss marks the first time in the T. J. Otzelberger era that Iowa State has started a season with a losing record.