OKLAHOMA CITY — Craig Brackins carried the weight of the Cyclones all season, scoring 35 percent of their points in Big 12 play and bringing down 32 percent of their rebounds.

He tried again against the Cowboys Wednesday night. Again the burden was too heavy, as Brackins wore down in the second half. This time the pressure sent him and the Cyclones crashing down and out of the Big 12 tournament in the first round for the third-straight year.

Brackins played all but three minutes of the game.

“When you play 37 minutes and you see double teams and physical play, virtually every time you touch it, it wears on you as the game goes on,” coach Greg McDermott said.

Brackins was fresh early and flew out of the gate for the Cyclones. He scored 10 of Iowa State’s first 12 points to open the game and had a double-double by half.

Oklahoma State coach Travis Ford called Brackins one of the top players in the country, and marveled at his ability to beat his defense in the first half with shot after shot.

“He makes some of the toughest shots I have ever seen on tape… He made some tough shots,” Ford said.

The Cowboys inability to stop Brackins early helped the Cyclones get out to a half time lead, and prompted Ford to make adjustments at half. Ford said he employed a specific strategy to start the second half of on-and-off double-teams that were designed to keep the ball out of Brackins’ hands. Marshall Moses was the one charged with keeping the ball away from Brackins in the post.

“We told him your job is to not let him get the ball deep in the post,” Ford said. “Make him work for everything he is going to get. Try not to let him have the ball.”

The adjustment worked and created extra work for Brackins in the second half. Brackins first shot after the break — an airball, and a sign of what was to come. Brackins struggled to establish the post and only scored eight points and pulled down two boards in the second half. Throw in three second half turnovers, and little help from the rest of the Cyclones, and you have a worn down Brackins and another loss.

“His body has taken a pounding during the season,” McDermott said. “The number of minutes he’s played and the physical style of defense that has been played against him over the course of 32 games will take its toll.”

Oklahoma State took advantage of Brackins and the Cyclones’ post defense in the second half, and ended the game with a 34-8 advantage for points in the paint. McDermott surprised the Cowboys with a zone defense that took away their 3-point shooting, but in the second half the cowboys exploited the post. Moses ended the night with 18 points and Obi Muonelo ended the night with 18.

“When you have four shooters out there with you, it is a post-players dream,” McDermott said. “Often times [Moses] was able to catch it deep, and when we tried to help, we were late. Against a team like Oklahoma State, you have to give up something. So we took our chances with Moses inside”

Despite being beaten up all night, Brackins still ended the night with 23 points and 12 rebounds, for his 15 double-double of the year.

“Every game is tough for Craig. He has seen every imaginable defenes that there is,” McDermott said. “I think people, if they hadn’t seen him play until tonight got a taste of what he’s capable of. He can score — he can score really hard baskets. That’s why the NBA has an interest in him.”

McDermott said he was impressed with how Brackins has held up during the season, and Jamie Vanderbeken said he felt the Cyclones, along with Brackins could surprise a lot of people next season.

The question is, does Brackins want to carry the weight for one more year?