Craig Brackins scored 21 points, including 11 in the final seven minutes, to lead Iowa State past Nebraska 78–74 Wednesday night.

The win was Iowa State’s (14-14, 3-10) first in the month of February and ended a six-game losing streak that dated back to a 84–63 loss at Baylor.

“I just went out there and played,” Brackins said. “I knew my teammates needed a spark so I was just trying to do what I can.”

The Palmdale, Calif., native struggled to just seven points and five rebounds in the first half, and he sat on the bench for seven minutes in the middle of the second half with foul trouble.

After returning to the game, though, Brackins took control.

Down 59–58 with six minutes remaining in the game, Brackins hit a 3-point shot that ignited the otherwise stagnant Hilton Coliseum crowd and put the Cyclones up 61–59 — a lead they wouldn’t surrender.

“I’m proud that he was able to do that, he hit a big shot and when he hit that shot it’s like a light switch went on,” said coach Greg McDermott.

“His post ups were better, he was more aggressive.”

McDermott said while his star forward was relegated to the bench in the second half, he was hardly out of the action.

“He was the first one to grab those guys when they came out,” McDermott said.

“He didn’t sit over there and sulk and feel sorry for himself.”

The game stayed close with Brackins out, and the ISU bench came from behind to take the lead 53–51 before the big man returned.

Iowa State’s depth had been a problem during the six-game skid, but McDermott was pleased with how his subs — LaRon Dendy, Chris Colvin and Dominique Buckley — performed down the stretch.

Brackins needed all the help he could get to push Iowa State through Nebraska’s grating defense.

Coming into tonight, the Cornhuskers (13-15, 1-12) had second best in the Big 12, allowing just 64 points per game.

“That group got us back in the game,” McDermott said. “Without their play, we’re not sitting here talking about a victory.”

Off of the ISU bench, Dendy had only four points and Colvin managed just three, but it was their work away from the box score that pleased the coach.

“I thought Chris played well,” McDermott said.

“Defensively, he did some things that really sparked us. His decisions made with his passes tonight were pretty good tonight.”

Sophomore guard Scott Christopherson had 17 points, and the Cyclones had four players in double figures for just the third time in conference play.

Christopherson’s 17 points were his highest since scoring 19 against Oklahoma State on Feb. 17.

“I’m just trying to be aggressive out there,” Christopherson said.

“Sometimes that means I get left when they double on Craig or Marquis [Gilstrap], and I’m just trying to step up, make some plays and knock down some shots.”

Christopherson was 5-for-10 shooting, including 2-for-6 from 3-point land. The sophomore from LaCrosse, Wis., also added five rebounds and only one turnover.

Gilstrap added 15 points and seven rebounds while Diante Garrett had 11 points and seven assists.

Down the stretch, Iowa State stretched the lead to as many as seven, and closed out making nine of its last 10 free throws.

“It was 59–53, and we scored on eight-straight possessions and nine out of 10 possessions in that stretch, and we just haven’t had many offensive runs like that,” McDermott said.

“For us to get the ball rolling and execute some offense extremely well, and our defense in the second half was so much better than it was in the first half and that’s a big reason we won the game.”