North Carolina A&T and Iowa State battled down to the wire in the Cyclone Challenge on Tuesday, Dec. 29 at Hilton Coliseum. The Aggies stuck with the Cyclones throughout the entire game, as both teams shot more than 40 percent from the field and forced eight lead changes.

Iowa State was able to hang on in the end for a 66–62 win over North Carolina A&T to bring the Cyclones’ record to 9–1. Senior point guard Alison Lacey led the Cyclones with 22 points, five assists and finished 10-of-11 from the free-throw line.

“Alison Lacey was the only player on our team that decided to show up tonight from start to finish,” coach Bill Fennelly said in a news release following the game. “What happened tonight was unacceptable.”

The Aggies held Iowa State to a season-low four 3-pointers on the night, and while the Cyclones did come out on top, Fennelly expects more from his team in the future.

Junior guard Kelsey Bolte and freshman post Chelsea Poppens each chipped in a dozen points for Iowa State. Senior guard Denae Stuckey ripped down 10 rebounds, leading the Cyclones on the offensive end with eight.