Sooners Squander Huge Lead In Loss To Cyclones

If at first you don't succeed, try again in the second half.

That was Iowa State's motto on Monday night, as the Cyclones stormed from 20 points down to snatch a 77-70 win away from the visiting Oklahoma Sooners.

The first half was a disaster for the Cyclones. Iowa State hit just eight field goals and shot 1-of-8 (12.5 percent) from 3-point range. ISU also coughed it up 10 times and attempted just two free throws as they entered the half trailing 37-18.

OU came out of the locker room and kept its foot on the gas. Iowa State simultaneously woke up, and it looked like we were in for a competitive second 20 minutes.

But then everything changed on an official's whistle.

After Ryan Spangler's block sent the game to an official timeout, Isaiah Cousins was issued a technical foul for yelling at the Iowa State bench. Georges Niang made the technical free throw to cut the Sooners' lead to 48-29 at the 14:55 mark, and from there, the floodgates were open.

Hilton Coliseum exploded as Iowa State took off on a 22-0 run. The Cyclones stuck their offense in the microwave and the game was tight before OU could even blink. As ISU got hot, Oklahoma took a trip to the arctic tundra. The Sooners didn't hit another field goal for the next 8:30 of game time.

By the time OU finally sunk its next field goal, it found itself trailing 59-54 in one of the rowdiest environments in America. With just a little more than six minutes to play, the Sooners still technically had a shot, but in reality, their opportunity to steal a huge road win had passed.

Buddy Hield led OU with 26 points and five boards. Cousins, whose technical turned the tide of this game, scored 12 to go with four rebounds, three assists and three steals. Jordan Woodard scored 10 points on 11 shots and was the only other Sooner in double figures.

Niang led ISU with 23 points and eight rebounds. Monte Morris knocked in 19 points while Dustin Hogue chipped in seven points and 10 rebounds on his Senior Night.

No. 15 OU (20-9, 11-6) hosts Kansas on Saturday to close out the regular season.