Iowa State couldn’t overcome a flat start and poor outside shooting Wednesday, falling to Texas Tech at home 92-83.

The Cyclones (14-7, 1-5 in Big 12) slumped behind the arc for the second consecutive game, only knocking down 4-of-21 attempts and coach Fred Hoiberg’s team couldn’t out-hustle an experienced Red Raider (10-11, 2-4) team.

Hoiberg’s team couldn’t make defensive stops in the second half, and allowed Texas Tech’s 6-foot-6-inch senior forward Mike Singletary to take over the game.

“You gotta come out with a sense urgency,” Hoiberg said. “The last three games, really the last five games we’ve gotten punched in the mouth first. You’ve got to be the aggressors, especially when you’re at home you’ve got to get your crowd into the game, you’ve got to go out there and want it. We just went out there tonight nonchalant, like it was just another game. It was the biggest game of the season for us.”

Singletary finished with a game-high 33 points, including 19 in the first half, and got more help with all the Red Raiders starters finishing in double-digits scoring. Singletary has a history of big scoring efforts and with a weakened Cyclone interior due to depth, took full advantage of the holes.

“He had 33, 10 [rebounds] and six [assists], we did a horrible job,” Hoiberg said. “We tried three guys on Singletary.”

Ball control helped put Texas Tech on top in a battle of last-place teams, with Iowa State turning the ball over 10 times and Tech tallying 27 assists on 35 made field goals. Red Raider point guard John Roberson finished the game with 12 points and 12 assists.

“This is game where the seniors played like seniors,” said TTU coach Pat Knight after the game. “From a practice situation and not giving up and just staying focused and not listening to negative stuff out there, I think this speaks wonders about those kids.”

The Cyclones got strong efforts from senior guards Diante Garrett and Jake Anderson, with Garrett putting up 27 points on 24 shots and the 6-foot-2-inch Anderson logging 15 points and 12 rebounds. Combining the veteran’s efforts weren’t enough to overcome a lack of focus on the defensive end of the court.

“They did a lot of switching with any screen,” Garrett said. “It’s hard for anybody when you’ve got a team like we do that shoots a lot of threes … and them denying that kind of startled us. We’re just gonna have to get back to practice tomorrow and just get after it.”

Texas Tech’s 55-point outburst in the second half was the most points the Cyclones have given up after intermission all year. The previous high was 45 in a back-and-forth battle with Creighton on Nov. 21.

“Happiness in coaching is winning on the road,” Knight said. “I don’t care what anyone says, road wins are huge especially in this league. Especially a team like Iowa State that is playing well. In our league anyone you beat this year is a good win.”

Iowa State’s next home game is scheduled for an 8 p.m. tip-off Saturday against Oklahoma.