Bouncing back from difficult losses has become somewhat of a routine for the Cyclones in the past two months.

On Feb. 25, Iowa State added a fourth heartbreaker to a list that continues to grow, when it lost to No. 6 Kansas in overtime despite leading late. That game joined overtime losses to Kansas and Texas from earlier this season as well as a loss in the final seconds to Oklahoma State.

Following Big 12 losses, the Cyclones (19-9, 9-6 Big 12) are 4-1 this season, and come March 2 they will face the test again when they hit the road to face Oklahoma.

“You take what happened, you learn from it and you go out and win the next game,” said ISU forward Melvin Ejim about the key to bouncing back. 

“A lot of teams lose track of games ahead of them by looking behind them. We just have to focus on what’s in front of us and go out and stick to the game plan.”

That game plan will have a focus on defense.

While a missed charge call — which the conference has admitted was missed — hurt Iowa State on Feb. 25, the team feels there were things it could have done to avoid letting the officials alter the outcome.

“We really have to correct some of the things that led to that last possession and that led to the game being decided by officiating,” Ejim said. “We should have put ourselves in a better situation.”

The Cyclones led 90-88 when Kansas’ Elijah Johnson knocked ISU forward Georges Niang to the ground. No charge was called, and eventually Niang was called for a reaching foul that sent Johnson to the line to tie the game.

Kansas would send the game to overtime with the two free throws to eventually win.

“I think we just do a great job of responding; we do a great job of letting that game go,” said ISU guard Chris Babb of the team’s resiliency. “Coach is always preaching to us next play — even in the games you make a bad play or you miss a shot, get on to the next play.”

When the Cyclones meet the Sooners (18-9, 9-6) on March 2, they’ll be meeting a team they beat 83-64 in early February. Iowa State will also be facing a team that recently fell in heartbreaking fashion.

Oklahoma led by 22 points against Texas on Feb. 27 before the Longhorns hit a last-second shot to send the game to overtime, where they won.

“I’m sure they’re going to feel a little bit like us,” Ejim said of the Sooners.

The only time Iowa State has lost back-to-back games in conference play this season was when it lost to Texas on the road following a loss to Kansas State. The Cyclones will face that road test again on March 2.

“They say to win on the road you have to be at least 10 points better than your opponent,” Babb said.

Following another last-second loss, the Cyclones will again be facing a challenge they’ve become accustomed to.

“They continue to bounce back with great effort,” said ISU coach Fred Hoiberg of his team. “That’s the thing that I love about these guys is how they’re able to put disappointing game behind them and bounce back.”