NORMAN, OK – Iowa State tried to come ready to play as they traveled to Norman, Oklahoma to take on the Sooners – even going so far as to post some bulletin board material around their locker room this week as the game approached – but there wasn’t enough motivation to find a victory Saturday as the ‘Clones lost their first game of the year, 87-82.
The loss ended Iowa State’s best start in school history and longest winning streak in program history as ISU is now 14-1 overall and 2-1 in Big 12 play. Oklahoma improved to 13-3 overall and 2-1 in the Big 12.
Oklahoma came out firing and built a lead, but the Cyclones finished the first half on an 8-0 run to tie the game going into the break. ISU got the first points of the second half, but were back on their heels again as the Sooners re-built their lead up to its largest of the game at 59-46.
Iowa State started to get to work at chopping away at yet another large second-half deficit. Down 61-48, ISU went on a 15-5 run via a balanced attack that featured contributions from five players to bring the game back to one possession at 66-63 in favor of the Sooners. Oklahoma went back to the well where they were able to attain their lead as Jordan Woodard his OU’s 13th 3-pointer of the game to up its lead to 71-63.
Once again, Iowa State had to chip away again and on the back of Melvin Ejim and a big dunk by Dustin Hogue, Iowa State got the Oklahoma lead down to two at 76-74. Ejim gave Iowa State only its third lead of the game with a 3-pointer with 2:25 to go at 77-76. Oklahoma immediately responded as Ryan Spangler posted up Dustin Hogue for a bucket and a foul. Spangler added the free throw to put Oklahoma back up two.
After an empty Iowa State possession, Oklahoma began to slow the game down. With the shot clock running down it was Buddy Hield, who dominated from deep with six 3-pointers drove to the hole for a lay-in to give Oklahoma a four-point lead. DeAndre Kane could not convert his lay-in and Melvin Ejim could not reach the ball for a put-back opportunity.
Iowa State’s offense had another empty possession, meaning it would need the help of missed free throws to keep it close. However, OU was on cue from the charity stripe all day, finishing 18-of-21 and not having its first miss until well into the second half.
