Peterson: Iowa State basketball Milan Momcilovic best game Yahoo Sports

Iowa State freshman Milan Momcilovic shines in Big 12 conference game, leading Cyclones to victory. Excitement builds for upcoming Kansas game.

AMES - The intensity of the game and the postgame handshake between Iowa State's T.J. Otzelberger and Kansas State's Jerome Tang may have been the headlines, but Wednesday's game was all about freshman Milan Momcilovic. The true freshman finally delivered on the potential he had been showing in the past five Big 12 games, putting on a show for the robust sellout crowd at Hilton Coliseum. It was a hard-fought, rough-and-tumble game that showcased everything that Big 12 Conference basketball is all about.

The game was physical, with a total of 46 fouls and 62 free throws. There was even a technical foul against Tang, who had some words for Otzelberger during the postgame handshake. The game had it all, and Momcilovic was the star of the show when it mattered most. He calmly sank free throws and a crucial 3-pointer in the final minutes to secure the win for Iowa State.

His performance was a breakout in the Big 12, as he scored a game-high 19 points and shot lights out without committing a turnover. Momcilovic's steady performance was a stark contrast to his previous conference games, where he had scored between 10 and 12 points. His next test will be against Kansas, and the atmosphere at Hilton Coliseum is sure to be electric once again.

The annual Cyclones-Jayhawks battle is the marquee event of the season, and it's the only regular-season game between the two teams. The game is a must-watch for college basketball fans and will be broadcast nationally on CBS. The Big 12 is touted as the best basketball league in the country, and Iowa State's victory over Kansas State is proof of the conference's competitiveness.

Iowa State's athletic director, Jamie Pollard, a member of the NCAA Tournament's selection committee, was in attendance, and Tang made a pitch for the Big 12, highlighting the league's tough road environments and the competitiveness of its teams. With the Jayhawks set to visit Hilton Coliseum, the Big 12 is just getting started, and the excitement is only going to build from here.