TEMPE, Ariz. — For a minute, it looked as if turnovers would cost Iowa State a win in its first bowl game since 2005.

But, ultimately, it was a Minnesota fumble that sealed the Cyclones’ 14-13 victory over the Gophers in the 21st annual Insight Bowl.

With the ball on Iowa State’s 17-yard line and trailing by one with less than five minutes on the clock, the Gophers were on the verge of taking the lead from the Cyclones.

A fumble by MarQueis Gray on the 15-yard line promptly ended any momentum Minnesota had gained.

As the ball popped out of Gray’s hands, Iowa State’s Ter’ran Benton was there to make the game’s decisive play. Benton was playing in his first game since breaking his leg in the team’s game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers, on Oct. 24.

“I knew the play was going to come to my side, and I had to make a play,” Benton said, “and I had to do it for my momma. She told me when I got back, after I broke my leg, I had to make a big play.”

Despite the big play, the ISU offense, which had already turned the ball over four times, still had four minutes to drain from the clock.

Cyclone running back Alexander Robinson knew the focus would be on him to hold on to the ball.

“[Running backs’] coach [Kenith] Pope came up to me; he said, ‘Protect the football. If you see a hole, hit it. Otherwise, just keep two hands on it and get as much as you can and get down.'”

Minnesota tried to stop the clock by using its remaining timeouts, but the Cyclones continued to move the ball on the ground and ticked away the remaining time on the clock.

The clock at Sun Devil Stadium hit zero, sending the players and the thousands of Cyclone fans who littered the stadium into a moment of euphoria.

After a long and arduous four years, Iowa State had finally secured its first winning season since 2005.

The Cyclones’ players were lost for words after the game.

“I can’t even explain how good this feels,” said junior safety David Sims, whose late second quarter interception in the end zone set up what turned out to be the game-winning touchdown, minutes before halftime.

Iowa State’s victory fulfilled the promise coach Paul Rhoads made when he first arrived in Ames last December — that the 2009 Cyclone football team would win a bowl game.

“It was a goal that we set out a year ago, when Coach Rhoads first got here. We’ve had some rough times here, and to do it in this fashion is an indescribable feeling,” said senior defensive lineman Nate Frere, pausing to wipe away tears.

The Cyclones held the momentum for the majority of the game, but that momentum was in jeopardy of dissipating because of the team’s four turnovers, all of which were credited to quarterback Austen Arnaud (two interceptions, two turnovers).

Although Arnaud was far from perfect form, the junior quarterback was able to recover from the setbacks to complete 19 of his 26 passes for 216 yards and a touchdown, as well as scoring the Cyclones’ first touchdown on a 9-yard rush early in the second quarter.

“Coach Rhoads is always good about coming over and settling me down,” Arnaud said. “He is always telling me to play within myself. It was unfortunate to have a game like this in a big game, but it is lost to me now.”

Rhoads pointed to Arnaud’s ability to brush off the turnovers as a key component in the team’s win.

“You don’t lead a football team when you make mistakes like that without coming back and having credibility with your teammates,” Rhoads said. “When a football team has got doubt, somebody has to snap it out of them. And our quarterback certainly did that tonight.”

Robinson did his best to take some pressure off of Arnaud, keeping the Gopher defense scrambling all night.

The junior running back ran for 137 yards on 22 carries, earning him Offensive Player of the Game honors and his sixth 100-yard rushing game of the season.

“Every time [Robinson] steps onto the field, I expect a big game from him,” Arnaud said. “He is a spark for us. His work ethic defines our program.”

Iowa State’s defense also turned out a standout performance, stopping the Gophers on several key drives.

Although the Gophers put up 428 yards of total offense, the Cyclones were able to hold Minnesota on 10 of their 12 third downs.

Minnesota was held to only three points in the first half, making it 10 straight quarters since the team had scored an offensive touchdown.

“We got a sack early, we got pressure early and that affected play calling from there out,” Rhoads said. “Balls were out of their hands faster; that allowed us to continue to play good defense.”

The Gophers finally broke through the Cyclone defense in the third quarter, scoring 10 unanswered points, including a 23-yard touchdown pass from Gopher quarterback Adam Weber to tight end Nick Tow-Arnett.

But the second half surge wouldn’t be enough, as Iowa State was able to hold the Gophers scoreless in the fourth quarter.

The loss — the Gophers’ fourth straight bowl loss — left the Minnesota players stunned and disheartened.

“It’s a tough loss, and I had a locker room full of heart-broken kids,” Minnesota coach Tim Brewster said. “They played their hearts out, and we came here to win the football game, and we didn’t get it done.”

The feeling was exactly the opposite on the opposing sideline.

Iowa State’s Insight Bowl victory puts the Cyclones’ season record at 7-6 and adds an exclamation mark to Rhoads’ turnaround for the ISU football program.

“I’m proud to lead this program and this team in whatever we do,” Rhoads said. “Whether it’s a community service project, or through practice or winning a bowl game, but you don’t do that without the kids believing and being all in, and going out there and accomplishing all [of] the goals and expectations that we set.”