It was a game and a night to forget. 

Defending national champion Texas A&M came to Hilton Coliseum to face Iowa State and there was never a doubt which team would win the game at any point.

The No. 10 Aggies (11-4, 2-2 Big 12) were never behind in the game and were only tied twice toward the beginning in a 59-33 victory. 

This loss has the Cyclones (9-6, 0-4) at 0-4 in Big 12 play for coach Bill Fennelly. The total of 33 points ties the lowest point total in the Fennelly era dating all the way back to Feb. 25, 2004, when the Cyclones lost to Kansas State in Manhattan.  

“Our offense is pitiful,” Fennelly said. “But you can’t miss the front ends of one-and-ones, you can’t miss lay ups, you can’t miss open 3-point shots.”

Texas A&M went on plenty of runs, but the one that seemed to suck the life out of Iowa State along with Hilton was a 9-0 run that started with 7:58 left and continued until the score was 26-14 Aggies. Texas A&M took that momentum and finished the first half on a 15-1 run. 

The Cyclones had one of the worst droughts of the season scoring-wise starting from halfway through the first half all the way into the second half. Iowa State only managed two baskets for a total of 17:12 with 9:07 left in the first half through 11:55 left in the second half. 

“There’s no excuses,” Fennelly said. “We’ve got to coach a hell of a lot better, that’s the bottom line.”

Iowa State struggled mightily in the first half.

The Cyclones only managed six total field goals in the entire half shooting 28.6 percent from the field. They also never scored a basket after the 9:07 mark and managed one free throw in that span. 

This was the lowest point total an Aggie team has held a conference opponent to in the Gary Blair era. Blair went as far as to compare his team’s defensive effort to last year’s national title team’s performance.

“What won the ball game was our halfcourt defense,” Blair said. “That looked like last year’s team. We have not played that well on defense the whole year.”

Iowa State’s post players Chelsea Poppens and Anna Prins were outscored by the Aggies’ posts Adaora Elonu and Tyra White 23-12.

“They just kept pushing us around,” Poppens said. “We weren’t being tougher we were just kind of backing down.”

The Cyclones also were out-rebounded 40-33 and gave up 15 offensive rebounds. 

“I think they’re more physical than their football team,” Fennelly said.

Another obstacle Iowa State couldn’t overcome was Poppens’ absence at the end of the first half. 

When Poppens was subbed out with 7:33 left in the first half, the Cyclones’ deficit was nine. With her sitting out the rest of the half, the Aggies doubled that making it 18 going into the locker room. 

“It was definitley tough sitting there and not being able to do anything,” Poppens said. “But we gotta play when people get fouls.

“People have to step up. Next man in like coach Fennelly says.”

Iowa State’s schedule doesn’t get any easier as it immediately heads to Austin, Texas, to face a Longhorn team that just defeated the Aggies 76-71 at College Station. 

“We’re going to finish this [season] the way we should,” Fennelly said. “We’re going to play hard, we’re going to work hard.”