What a difference two weeks makes.

Fourteen days ago, the ISU men’s basketball team was 0-5 in the Big 12, fighting to stay above water. In just two weeks, the Cyclones have turned their season around, thanks to a four-game winning streak.

“We finally started to play together,” said freshman Rahshon Clark. “We play how we practice.”

The Cyclones are 12-8 overall and 4-5 in the Big 12, tied with Texas for sixth in the conference, and a win over Texas Tech on Saturday would bring them to .500 in the Big 12 for the first time this season. A scrappy zone defense and a hustling full-court press have Iowa State back in the conference hunt.

“We’ve been having other teams go on scoring droughts for three or four minutes with our defense alone,” said guard Will Blalock. “Right now, we’re looking at a pretty good spot in the Big 12’s. We just have to keep it up.”

Iowa State ranks first in the Big 12 in steals, forcing an average of 11 thefts in conference games. Blalock, Clark and Curtis Stinson all rank in the top four in the conference in steals per game.

The Cyclones forced 19 turnovers and came away with 16 steals against Nebraska, using their defense to create offense. Blalock said most of the team’s offense is a direct result of their defense.

“Rahshon is so lanky and he’s great on defense on our press and has been giving a lot of smaller guards trouble,” Blalock said. “That’s how we get a lot of hands on balls and that starts our transition.”

Clark has accounted for 16 steals in the last five games, using his long arms to create problems for other teams.

“His length and quickness out front is very conducive to giving teams trouble,” said ISU head coach Wayne Morgan. “He doesn’t take plays off out there.

“Our defense fuels our offense. It’s a difference maker.”

The Cyclones’ defense will be put to the test by Tech, a team that hasn’t made many mistakes.

The Red Raiders commit just 13 turnovers a game, the second fewest in the league. Only Iowa State hands over the ball fewer times the Tech.

Texas Tech also owns a four-game conference winning streak and a 7-2 Big 12 mark. Its losses have come to Oklahoma State and Texas.

“[They are] playing as well as anybody, not only in the league but in the country,” Morgan said. “They’re playing great.”

Tech has four players who average double figures, led by Ronald Ross at 16.2 points per game. Right behind him is Jarrius Jackson, adding 15.4 per contest.