His numbers might not have been as sensational as some of his teammates. He was third on the team in points and second in rebounds. But Rahshon Clark was the most valuable Cyclone Wednesday night.

The senior forward was the glue that held the team together, hurling himself around Hilton Coliseum. Many of his plays won’t show up in the box score but, without them, Iowa State would have been in trouble.

All his effort paid off as Iowa State held on to knock off a confident Missouri team, 72-67.

“Rahshon wants to do whatever he can do to help us win, and that’s the sign in my eyes of a true leader,” said coach Greg McDermott. “He doesn’t care what the stat sheet says as long as it’s a ‘W’ for the Cyclones.”

Clark finished with 16 points, eight rebounds, three blocks, two steals and one assist, but even when he fills up a stat line like that, his contribution can’t be contained by those measurements.

Where Clark shone brightest was on the defensive end. He played Tigers’ sharpshooter Matt Lawrence so close the two might have been sharing a jersey at some points during the game. Chasing tirelessly around screen after screen, Clark held Lawrence without a 3-pointer – Lawrence made three with other Cyclones guarding him.

Long nights like Wednesday’s are what the Cyclones’ opponents can expect if they find themselves matched up against Clark.

“He makes things very difficult for whoever he guards,” McDermott said.

But what makes Clark’s defensive ability even more remarkable is what he has given up to reach his level of lock-down defense. He doesn’t get as many chances to score as he did under former coach Wayne Morgan, instead relying on put-backs, dunks and the occasional jump shot to get his points.

That willingness to buy into a team concept has impressed McDermott.

“[Clark] has been willing to sacrifice as much as anybody I have ever coached,” McDermott said. “We were without a true defensive stopper last year, and we had to make him one. And he’s bought into that, and he relishes that role now.”

Cyclone Alley has become used to Clark giving them highlight-reel reasons to cheer, and the first game back from break was no exception.

Every time Clark made a play, whether it was a game-changer or something as simple as diving for a loose ball or leaping for a rebound, the fans let their appreciation be known.

For Clark, that adoration is just more fuel for the inner fire that clearly becomes an inferno when he takes the court.

“We had our crowd here behind us, we had our students back,” Clark said. “That’s important to us. They’re terrific, our fans are terrific.”

But, even as his coach and fans are heaping praise on him, Clark has remained humble, giving his teammates credit instead of taking it himself.

“It’s not just a one-person thing – I have to rely on my teammates as well,” Clark said. “So it’s not just me, it’s the whole group.”