Hilton magic is back!

Yesterday, the Iowa State men’s basketball team did what few people thought possible.

The Cyclones beat Kansas, something that hasn’t happened since the Big 12 Conference was born.

ISU didn’t lead in the game until only 54 seconds were left, but the team managed to hold on when it counted in the 52-50 win.

The victory gave ISU a winning season with a record of 15-14, another thing that few thought possible.

Why did so few fans have confidence in the men’s team this year? The reasons are plentiful.

First, Coach Larry Eustachy’s team had only nine available players with Lee Love quitting the team and Travis Spivey and Paul Shirley redshirting the season.

For some games that number dropped to eight, as Paris Corner sat out because of academic problems.

And that’s not to mention the players who were supposed to play for ISU but didn’t.

Anthony Lloyd and Dewayne Johns started school in August as Cyclones but left the team in the fall.

Other potential players, such as Deionta Hagwood, a transfer from Bakersfield College, never even made it to Ames.

Then there were the injuries. Martin Rancik, Michael Nurse, Marcus Fizer and Stevie Johnson all either missed games or played injured.

But even with only nine players and a wealth of injuries, the team might have inspired more confidence if not for its off-the-court troubles.

Spivey, a heralded Georgia Tech transfer, was arrested and charged with simple assault, public intoxication and trespassing after allegedly swinging at an employee of Hardee’s Restaurant in Ames.

The assault and intoxication charges were dropped due to lack of evidence, but the situation was enough to distract the players and raise many questions about the whole team.

But the Cyclones rose above their problems and finished strong, keeping Coach Eustachy’s record of winning seasons perfect and reinvigorating the Hilton magic that had been missing.

Yes, this is only basketball. But this season the Cyclones gave all of Iowa State something to be proud of.

Congratulations, guys. Good luck in Kansas City.