Make it two times that Iowa State hasn’t bounced back in Big 12 play.

Following a heartbreaking loss to No. 6 Kansas last Monday, Iowa State (19-10, 9-7 Big 12) took on Oklahoma on Saturday in a battle between fourth-place teams in the Big 12. The Cyclones entered the game 4-1 in Big 12 play following losses.

With a lack of energy, though, it didn’t take long for the Sooners (19-9, 10-6) to take control and push the Cyclones even closer to the bubble for the NCAA tournament, beating them 86-69.

“We did not play well today,” said ISU coach Fred Hoiberg following the game. “That is the bottom line.”

Iowa State trailed by 12 points at halftime and an 11-3 run out of the break pushed Oklahoma to a commanding 20-point lead that was too much to overcome. The halftime deficit was the largest of the season and the end result was the worst loss of the season for the Cyclones.

“It is really the first time all year that we got it taken to us,” Hoiberg said. “We got our butts kicked. It is a terrible feeling, especially with the magnitude of this game. This was a huge game for both teams and they stepped up to the plate to win it.”

The magnitude was positioning within the Big 12. With the loss Iowa State falls to fifth place alone in the conference while Oklahoma moves into sole possession of fourth place.

Now the Cyclones have one final week in the regular season — with games against No. 15 Oklahoma State and West Virginia — to prove they belong in the NCAA tournament.

Iowa State was done in by allowing Oklahoma to make an NCAA record-tying 34 free throws. The Sooners were a perfect 34-of-34 from the charity stripe in the game and outscored the Cyclones at the line 34-14.

“The NCAA has been around a long time and to equal a record is a pretty impressive performance,” Hoiberg said. “Free throws are contagious. When you’re making them, your teammates seem to step up and knock them down.”

If not for the bench, the Cyclones could have been in worse shape. ISU guard Tyrus McGee made six 3-pointers for a second consecutive game and scored 22 points overall while guard Bubu Palo scored a season-high 12 points off the bench.

Iowa State shot just 34.6 percent from the field in the first half and struggled mightily early on.

“We did have some pretty good looks that we knocked down earlier in the year,” Hoiberg said. “When we did not make those, I thought it affected our energy.”

The Cyclones have now lost back-to-back games three times this season, accounting for six of their nine losses. The team hasn’t lost three consecutive games this season and will be attempting to avoid that Wednesday against Oklahoma State.

“We have responded and we have bounced back from excruciating losses that we have had before,” Hoiberg said. “Tonight we did not and we have to get it right. We have two very important games coming up.”