Since 2005, the ISU men’s basketball team had lost 13 straight games on the road to Big 12 opponents.

That was until the calendar turned to 2012 and the Cyclones (14-5, 4-2 Big 12) won two games — in the state of Texas, no less — by 24 points on the road.

“I like the fact that these guys embrace the challenge of going on the road,” said coach Fred Hoiberg. “We’ve outrebounded all three opponents in the Big 12 on the road and if you do that, you’re going to give yourself a chance to win.”

In defeats of Texas A&M (74-50) and Texas Tech (76-52), Iowa State has begun to change the notion that the team can’t win on the road, as had become its reputation.

Hoiberg said in Monday’s new conference that more than anything else, he’s happiest with the fact that his team has played as one and has leaned on one another well.

“That’s what I’ve been most impressed with this group about, is how we’ve gone on the road [and] really come together,” Hoiberg said. “We’re all we’ve got, those 12 to 13 guys that we travel with. That’s it. We’ve got to bond and play as a team, and we’ve done that.”

Redshirt senior guard Scott Christopherson didn’t gush about his team’s ability on the road when asked about the recent success. What he did do was heed a word of caution and echo what his coach said about the team playing as one when away from Hilton Coliseum.

“What are we, 2-1? We’ve got a lot of road games ahead of us before I say we’re good on the road,” Christopherson said. “For some reason, we’re able to kind of come together. I think we realize when we’re on the road, it’s just 13 or 14 guys in the locker room and our coaches and that’s all we’ve got.

“I think we’ve done a really good job of kind of coming together and having each others’ back.”

Redshirt sophomore forward Royce White said he thought the team had a different “level of focus” when on the road, which contributed to the togetherness that Hoiberg and Christopherson spoke of.

“It’s definitely a different level of focus when you’re surrounded by the enemy,” White said. “It’s a war. And any time you go on the road, especially in this league, against tough competition, it’s definitely a war and a battle.”

Iowa State heads back to the state of Texas for the second time in four days on Tuesday to take on Texas in Austin, Texas. The Cyclones beat the Longhorns 77-71 on Jan. 4 on the strength of guard Chris Babb’s 3-point shooting.

Going into the second matchup, Iowa State could rely on another shooter, sixth man Tyrus McGee. The junior college transfer and winner of the latest Big 12 Rookie of the Week award has tallied 17 and 20 points in games against Oklahoma State and Texas Tech on 11-of-20 shooting (55 percent) from 3-point range.

“He came up huge for us, made huge plays against Oklahoma State, then came back on Saturday [against Texas Tech] and gave us another spark off the bench,” Christopherson said. “It was good to see him step up and play really well. We definitely needed it.”

Hoiberg had nothing but good things to say about McGee on Monday and reminisced about recruiting the Stringtown, Okla., native. The energy McGee brings now — energy Hoiberg and his staff have said repeatedly they rely on — was evident then.

“He was my No. 1 target last year,” Hoiberg said. “I went and watched a junior college event and fell in love with the kid. More than his shooting was just how hard he played, and you could see that.”

McGee’s vocalness and success from 3-point range will be key for the Cyclones on Tuesday against Texas. Hoiberg said the Longhorns have gotten better since the two teams last met.

He was quick to add, though, that his team has too.

“We’ll tweak our game plan. They’re doing a few things differently,” Hoiberg said. “They’re a better team than they were a few weeks ago. But I think we’re a better team than we were a few weeks ago.”