The Cyclone defense held its fourth opponent in six games to under 50 points — well above last year’s total of one team held under 50: Northern Iowa, who scored 48.

Iowa State’s defense this year has been dominant, mixing a trapping zone with a stifling man-to-man. It has held opponents to a scoring average of 53.5 points per game, which includes an 89-80 loss to Iowa in Iowa City. In five wins, Iowa State’s opponents have scored only 46.4 points per game.

Last year, the Cyclones gave up an average of 68 points per game through their first six games.

The Cyclones have done more than limit open looks for the other team. They have forced eight shot clock violations so far this year and hold a rebounding edge of 291 to 207 — almost 15 rebounds a game better than their opposition.

“That’s been the focus from the beginning of the year to try to play different defenses,” said senior guard Anne O’Neil.

“We want to be able to focus on that so we can start intense on that end and get our offensive game going.”

Iowa State has used a zone for most of head coach Bill Fennelly’s career in Ames, but he has worked in a man defense lately to make the other team change things up.

“We got off to the quick start, and the first basket they got was because we forgot what defense we were in,” Fennelly said.

“You hold someone to 40 points, that’s good.”

An opportunistic defense — it averages more than nine steals a game — also provides the offense with opportunities for fast break points. It scored six points on Wednesday on fastbreaks, averages 5.8 points a game on fastbreaks.

“I thought our perimeter defense was really good, and forced them into some bad shots,” Fennelly said.