No. 3 Iowa State (12-0) plays its final non-conference game of the year against the Houston Christian Huskies (5-7, 1-3) on Monday night inside Hilton Coliseum (7:00 p.m., ESPN+).
Houston Christian is a team that’s still trying to find its identity, but has enough talent to make things interesting. The Huskies come in with a roster full of young players who play fast, aren’t afraid to shoot, and rely heavily on their guards to create offense. Head coach Craig Doty has talked a lot about building toughness and consistency, even though the Huskies haven’t been great the last few seasons.
The biggest name to know is guard Kylin Green, who has turned into the centerpiece of Houston Christian’s offense. Green leads the team with 12.2 points per game and also runs the show as their top playmaker, averaging 5.7 assists and grabbing 4.4 rebounds, which is one of the best marks in the Southland Conference.
He’s also one of their most active defenders, picking up 1.3 steals per game. Green isn’t the biggest guy on the floor, but he plays with a ton of energy and has a knack for getting into the paint. When he’s hitting from outside, he shoots 36.1 percent from three; it opens up everything else for the Huskies.
Around Green, Houston Christian has a few other players who can score in bunches. Forward Demarco Bethea gives them almost 10 points and a team‑best 4.7 rebounds per game. He’s physical in the paint and does most of his work around the rim, which helps the Huskies stay competitive on the boards even though they’ve been out‑rebounded by most this season.
Trent Johnson is another steady option, averaging 9.8 points while shooting an efficient 46.1 percent from the field. He’s the kind of player who doesn’t force much but can hurt teams if they leave him open.
Offensively, the Huskies like to push the pace and attack early in the shot clock. They average just over 71 points per game this season (71.4 ppg), which is a significant jump from previous years, and they’ve improved their overall shooting to 46.0 percent from the field.
They don’t rely heavily on the three, but they’ll take them when they’re open, hitting 31.9 percent as a team. Most of their scoring comes from drives, cuts, and mid‑range looks created by Green’s penetration. When he gets downhill, defenses collapse, and that’s when Houston Christian finds rhythm on the outside.
Defensively, the Huskies are aggressive but sometimes inconsistent. They average 6.8 steals per game and try to pressure ball‑handlers, but that style can also lead to breakdowns. Opponents are shooting nearly 48 percent against them, which shows that while they gamble for turnovers, they also give up clean looks if rotations are late. Their defensive rebounding has been better this season, but it’s still an area where teams have taken advantage in the past.
For Iowa State, the key will be controlling Green and not letting him dictate the pace. If the Cyclones can force him into tough shots and limit his passing lanes, Houston Christian’s offense becomes much more predictable and stagnant. But if Green gets comfortable, the Huskies have enough scoring options to hang around longer than Iowa State might want them to.
