Iowa State Cyclones guard Killyan Toure (27) talks to media during the university’s basketball media day at Hilton Coliseum on October. 8, 2025, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES — Pamiers, France is known as the “city with three bell towers” — and also features a famous magic museum.
Around 16,000 people call the town home, including Iowa State true freshman point guard Killyan Toure, who got his first taste of “Hilton Magic” in Sunday’s 80-72 exhibition win over Northwestern.
So how’d it go for the young Frenchman? Just ask Wildcats coach Chris Collins.
“It’s like he was almost born to play here,” said Collins, who saw Toure produce a stat line of 11 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals in his Hilton Coliseum debut. “He’s like (ISU head coach T.J. Otzelberger’s) favorite type of guy. He’s been (one of) those guy who are just tough as nails, man. Those guards that can get downhill — and he’s gonna be even better when (Cyclone senior point guard Tamin) Lipsey’s back.”
That, of course, will be true of ISU as a whole, which bounced back from a 71-58 exhibition loss at Creighton nine days ago. Guard Nate Heise led the Cyclones with 19 points on blistering 5-for-7 shooting from 3-point range. Forward Joshua Jefferson and backup guard Dominick Nelson added 17 points apiece for ISU, which outscored Northwestern 10-to-3 in points off turnovers down the stretch.
“Just bringing energy from the git-go,” said Nelson, who added four assists, went 6-for-6 from the free throw line, and hoarded a game-high four steals. “Just coming in and trying to make an impact as soon as I get on the floor, and get downhill and make plays for others.”
Jefferson added seven rebounds and blocked a game-high four shots while collecting a steal.
“Joshua is one of the premier defensive players in (the Big 12) and nationally, and it doesn’t jump off the page maybe as much in how it looks, but he seems to always get blocks, rebounds and steals, ” said Otzelberger, whose team opens the season on Nov. 3 against Farleigh Dickinson at home. “He ends possessions.”
He also brings that energy Nelson spoke of — as does every Cyclone Otzelberger and his staff trusts with minutes, including backup forward Eric Mulder, who scored seven points on 3-for-3 shooting with two dunks.
“I think that’s the important thing, and if those guys do that, their minutes will reflect the energy they brought,” Otzelberger said.
Heise’s energetic effort included four steals and two assists, He shot 7-for-10 from the field overall after going 0-for-3 in the exhibition loss at Creighton, and his production serves as one of many X-factors for ISU as the regular season nears.
“That Nate Heise right there is the guy that we know that he is,” Otzelberger said. “We’re gonna challenge him and demand that’s who he is overnight out, because he impacted the game significantly on both ends of the court in our favor to win the game.”
So did Toure — who does indeed feel at home in Hilton Coliseum, even though it’s more than 4,500 miles from his magic-tinged hometown.
“It’s really, really cool to be here and to be in those program with coach T.J.,” Toure said on media day. “I like his personality. He likes how I play. So it’s a good fit.”
And that may be an understatement.
“It just feels really good when he’s out there,” Otzelberger said. “It feels like he’s been in this program for a long time.”
