"Someone throw this pompom”: Fan backlash follows pom-pom that blocked the broadcast view in the Iowa State-Houston clash

No. 6 Iowa State Cyclones rallied late to defeat No. 2 Houston Cougars 70–67 on February 16, 2026, at Hilton Coliseum in Ames. The Cyclones trailed by double digits in the second half but closed the night on a 17–4 run to secure one of their biggest wins of the season.

As the closing seconds unfolded, the broadcast itself became part of the story. With 45.2 seconds remaining and Iowa State leading 69–67, a large pom-pom held by a fan in the lower seating area appeared in the ESPN camera frame and blocked part of the court. The moment was visible on the live broadcast and later shared widely on social media.

A viral pompom moment draws heat as the lowa state grabbed a stunning victory

The situation intensified after Shelby Hilliard (@ShelbyCHilliard) posted a screenshot of the broadcast on X. The post read, “Someone throw this pom pom into the sun please so I can enjoy the ending of Iowa State Houston.”


The image shows the pom-pom covering part of the baseline view while the score graphic displays Iowa State 69, Houston 67.

Other fans echoed the same frustration online. One wrote, “can’t see sh*t on Iowa State Houston cause a fan holding up a pom pom.”

Another fan chimes in, “#movethepompom trying to watch Houston vs Iowa State and a grown a**man won’t put down that damn Pom Pom.” These reactions reflected how closely viewers were watching the final moments.

The game itself had already turned chaotic. Houston had opened the second half on an 18–6 run, taking a 58–48 lead with 11 minutes left. The Cougars later pushed the margin to 10 with 7:09 remaining.

Iowa State responded with key plays. Tamin Lipsey tied the score at 63 with a free throw at 3:45. Chris Cenac Jr. gave Houston a brief lead at 3:21 before Jamarion Batemon hit a three to put the Cyclones back in front. Kingston Flemings answered with a jumper, but Nate Heise knocked down a corner three with 1:17 left to make it 69–67.

On the final possession, Cenac missed a short jumper. Blake Buchanan secured the rebound and was fouled. After missing the first free throw, Lipsey grabbed the offensive rebound and made the second to seal the win.

Joshua Jefferson led Iowa State with 12 points. Heise added 11, and Buchanan scored 10. Flemings led all scorers with 22 for Houston.


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