The last time Iowa State faced Nebraska, Curtis Stinson was starting one of the hottest streaks of his Cyclone career.

A month later, when the Cornhuskers came to Hilton Coliseum, the Cyclones star guard was nowhere to be found.

On his 23rd birthday, Stinson managed just six field goals on 28 attempts, scoring 15 points and never putting his stamp on the game like he had in many games past.

“He tried his best,” said ISU forward Rahshon Clark. “He shot the ball and it wasn’t dropping.”

Stinson was averaging 24 points in his last seven contests, scoring at least 20 points in six of his last seven games.

The junior guard could never find a rhythm, going 3-of-11 in the first half and hitting just three of his 17 second period shots.

“He usually shoots better then that,” said ISU coach Wayne Morgan. “Curtis [Stinson] will have other nights that will be great nights. Even the best players in the world have bad nights.”

Although his touch for shooting was missing, Stinson still managed six steals while handing out four assists.

“He’s going to pick it up,” said Cyclone guard Will Blalock. “He realizes he shot bad, but at the same time his effort was there.”

Aside from struggling on his birthday, the game had extra significance for Stinson.

Before Iowa State’s last game against Nebraska, the guard found out his mother had been rushed to a New York hospital after her heart stopped. One month later, his mother was in attendance, watching her son play.

“It was nice to see, given the emergency situation that she’s gone through recently that she took a train all the way down here to see her son,” Morgan said.

On Wednesday night, Stinson’s backcourt mate stepped up to carry the Cyclones.

Blalock had 23 points, with 14 of those falling in the first half. The guard was the only Cyclone to get anything going in the opening period, tallying more than half of Iowa State’s 26 points before the break.

This was the sixth time Blalock has scored 20 or more points this season and the second time in a row. Five of those six 20-point games have come in Big 12 play.