After the first half it looked like the ISU men’s basketball team would run away from visiting Kansas State.

Holding a 12-point lead at the break, the Cyclones nearly gave it all back to the Wildcats before making two key defensive stops to earn a win in both teams’ Big 12 opener, 72-70.

“Not only is it important to start the conference season with a win, it’s a home game, and home games are precious in this conference,” said ISU coach Wayne Morgan. “I’m just so happy that we were able to win at home.”

Kansas State shot 71 percent from the floor in the second half, steadily erasing Iowa State’s lead.

The Cyclones went up by 13 with 6:32 to play, but Kansas State went on a 15-4 run, pulling to within two points with under two minutes to play.

Iowa State hit a free throw but the Wildcats’ Cartier Martin answered with a 3-pointer, cutting the Cyclones’ lead to one.

But the Wildcats’ David Hoskins turned the ball over, and one possession later Curtis Stinson came up with a steal for the Cyclones, squeaking out the win.

Stinson jumped a passing lane to pick off the pass, sniffing out the Kansas State play call.

“They ran [the same play] a couple times. They ran it about a minute before that,” Stinson said. “They were going for the three, so I knew it was going to go there. I just tried to help a little bit and I threw my hand out and [the ball] hit it. My hand was just in the right place, I guess.”

Will Blalock led the Cyclones with a career-high 24 points and dished out five assists. He also hit four 3-pointers and had five rebounds.

“He’s great,” Stinson said. “He doesn’t get a lot of respect for what he does. He’s proving to people that he belongs up there with everyone else.

“He’s just good. He can score, play defense and pass the ball. He’s a great player.”

Stinson had another solid game, adding 17 points and eight assists. John Neal came off the bench to hit three shots from behind the 3-point line, giving a spark to a Cyclone team that ended the game with nine treys.

With the win, Iowa State moves to 11-3 on the season and 1-0 in conference play.

The win gives the Cyclones momentum heading into Monday’s showdown with Texas. The Longhorns have a 12-2 record and a No. 15 ranking. Their only two losses have come from No. 1 Duke and Tennessee.

They already hold wins over three top-25 teams, including then-No. 4 Memphis and then-No. 18 Iowa.

Junior forward P.J. Tucker leads Texas in scoring and point guard Daniel Gibson runs the Longhorn offense.

Blalock will most likely be matched up against Gibson, a showdown the Cyclone guard has been looking forward to.

“I get like, 80 million calls a day about this kid,” Blalock said. “I’m just really looking forward to this game.”

Game time is set for 8 p.m. at Hilton Coliseum and will be nationally televised on ESPN.

Although the game is on a national stage against a ranked opponent, the Cyclone players don’t need any help getting ready.

“It gets me going any game,” Stinson said.

“It doesn’t matter what the name is, you still have to play the game.”

But what about ESPN? National coverage? Prime-time audience? Does that jack things up a notch?

“My family can see me play,” Stinson smiled.