Everyone knows NBA star Stephen Curry as one of the greatest shooters of all time, but Iowa State junior Milan Momcilovic is outperforming the Davidson alumni’s college statistics.
Momcilovic’s blazing 3-point shooting has set college basketball fans in shock, as the Cyclones’ starting forward has been a major contributor to the success of the Iowa State men’s basketball program, which sits at 20-2 in the regular season.
Momcilovic has always been a consistent 3-point shooter for the Cyclones, shooting an average of 37.75% from beyond the arc on 5.2 attempts per game and making just under two per contest at 1.95 made 3-pointers through his first two seasons at Iowa State. However, the 2025-26 season has blown his prior strong shooting out of the water.
As of Feb. 4, Momcilovic is shooting a scorching 54% from 3-point range on seven attempts per game, making four per contest. His shooting highlights efficiency on a high volume of more difficult shots.
This means Momcilovic is not only shooting a career-high 3-point percentage by more than 10 percentage points compared to previous seasons, but he is also attempting more shots from deep. Increased volume typically creates more room for missed shots, making his efficiency even more impressive.
Seeing these numbers raises a question among college basketball fans: Is Momcilovic having one of the best shooting seasons in Cyclone history, or even in college basketball history?
Comparing Momcilovic to other Cyclone sharpshooters
The NCAA added the 3-point line to Division I men’s basketball in the 1986-87 season. Initially, the line sat 19 feet, 9 inches from the basket. It was moved back to 20 feet, 9 inches for the 2008-09 season and extended again to 22 feet for the 2019-20 season. These changes provide important context when comparing modern shooters to earlier eras and further highlight how impressive Momcilovic’s performance has been.
Throughout Iowa State men’s basketball history, only one player has shot 50% or better from beyond the arc in a single season — Momcilovic. The runner-up for the highest single-season 3-point percentage is senior guard Tyrus McGee, who shot 46.4% on 5.9 attempts per game. In comparison, Momcilovic is shooting more than seven percentage points better while taking roughly one more 3-pointer per game.
It is also important to compare Momcilovic to the program’s single-season record for made 3-pointers. Dedric Willoughby holds that mark with 102 made threes during the 1996-97 season. Momcilovic currently sits at 88 made 3-pointers with 10 games left in the regular season, putting him well within reach of the record.
Momcilovic compared to the legends of college basketball
As of the 2025-26 season, Momcilovic leads the NCAA in 3-point percentage by more than three percentage points while also attempting more 3-pointers than any other player in the country.
The highest single-season 3-point percentage in college basketball history belongs to Micah Mason, who shot 56% from beyond the arc during his junior season at Duquesne in 2013-14 on just under four attempts per game.
The record for most made 3-pointers in a single college basketball season is 162, shared by Darius McGhee of Liberty during the 2022-23 season and Curry, who reached the mark during his 2007-08 season.
When comparing Momcilovic to these legendary shooting performances, he sits just below Mason in percentage while taking significantly more shots. In fact, Momcilovic has already attempted more 3-pointers in his first 22 games this season than Mason attempted during his entire campaign.
While Momcilovic remains a ways off the single-season makes record with 88 triples, he is averaging four made 3-pointers per game. At that pace, he would finish the regular season with approximately 124 made threes.
That total would not include postseason play. A potential run through the Big 12 tournament could add up to four games, while a deep NCAA Tournament run could add as many as seven more, totaling a possible 11 additional contests.
Given the way Iowa State has been playing, a longer postseason run is well within reach. Momcilovic’s shooting has not only elevated his own game but has also unlocked opportunities for his teammates, something head coach T.J. Otzelberger has noticed.
“He can free others up by being great at setting and receiving screens, he can free others up by being a great cutter,” Otzelberger said.
Momcilovic also follows the formula common among elite shooters, particularly when it comes to making difficult shots.
“Working on it in practice, I got to work on it in practice so that it will translate to the game,” Momcilovic said.
