LAWRENCE, Kan. — Iowa State just couldn’t quite close it out.

The Cyclones (10-4, 0-1 Big 12) were tied or led for 15 minutes in the second half, but a 3-pointer from Kansas’ Ben McLemore with 1.3 seconds remaining in regulation sent the game to overtime. It was there that the No. 6 Jayhawks (13-1, 1-0) never looked back.

Kansas outscored Iowa State 18-10 in overtime to take the Big 12 opener between the teams, 97-89.

“It came down to a freak play there at the end,” Hoiberg said of McLemore’s 3-pointer. “When it left his hand I said ‘We got it.’ It looked like it was off to the left and it banks in.”

ISU guard Korie Lucious hit two free throws with 8.4 seconds remaining in regulation to push Iowa State’s lead to 79-76. McLemore drove down to the other end following the second make and banked in his sixth 3-pointer of the game, sending the crowd of 16,300 fans at Allen Fieldhouse into an uproar.

ISU coach Fred Hoiberg said the team debated whether or not to foul McLemore. Ultimately, the Cyclones felt they knew the play Kansas would run and decided against fouling.

“I know the question always is ‘Do you foul in that situation up three?'” Hoiberg said. “We felt with Georges [Niang] out of the game we felt we were small. We felt with a couple of extra possessions anything could happen.

“If they did hit one free throw, tap one out, that’s a way you can lose a game.”

McLemore was 10-of-12 shooting with 33 points for Kansas and was a perfect 6-of-6 from beyond the arc.

“I think we played very well,” said guard Chris Babb, who hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer before halftime. “I think we executed on offense, I think we defended. Just that last play we let them get that shot up — bank shot or not it was still an uncontested shot that we should have taken care of.”

Niang scored the first eight points of the game for the Cyclones as the freshman got the start in his first Big 12 game. With his quick start, Niang ended the game with 13 points and seven rebounds for the Cyclones.

Iowa State was led by Melvin Ejim, who scored 19 points on 7-of-14 shooting to go along with 11 rebounds. Overall the Cyclones had six players with double-digit point totals.

“We put together a great game plan,” Ejim said. “We knew exactly what they wanted to do. We felt like we did a great job and we gave ourselves an opportunity to win.”

After the Jayhawks sent the game to overtime, they started the extra five minutes on an 11-0 run. Iowa State was never able to rebound after falling behind.

Kansas was aided by the home crowd and the win extended the Jayhawks’ winning streak at Allen Fieldhouse to 31 games. In the locker room, the Cyclones were attempting to move on.

“Our guys were fired up in there, they know we let one slip away,” Hoiberg said. “They’re very disappointed about that. But at the same time if we can come in here and compete with a team that’s won eight league championships in a row you can play with anybody in the country.”

The Cyclones still have 17 conference games ahead, including a matchup with Texas at Hilton Coliseum on Saturday. The team, however, isn’t satisfied with simply playing Kansas close.

“We’re not about moral victories here,” Hoiberg said. “That’s a game we should have won that we didn’t. We can’t let it affect the next one. We have to get back to work tomorrow on a short turnaround with Texas on Saturday.”