COLUMBIA, Mo. — Albert White was back on his game, or as close as he could get considering his left ankle.

Benched after shooting a combined 5 for 28 the last three games, White rebounded with 15 points as Missouri overcame a sloppy effort for a 63-56 victory over Iowa State on Saturday.

The Michigan transfer, who became eligible for the second semester, said he probably had been trying too hard.

Coach Norm Stewart took a load off the 6-5 White, who has been playing all over the floor, and ordered him to stay inside.

“I think I was more patient and was able to get into the flow,” said White, who was 5 for 9. “Things came to me instead of me trying to always make things happen. I think that’s what I have to do from now on.”

White has been hampered by a sprained ankle suffered two days before he became eligible.

“There are certain things I know I can do, but I can’t necessarily do right now because of my ankle,” White said. “I get frustrated at myself, but I just have to take my time and things will happen.”

Stewart said shooting was the main reason he sat White.

“Hell, your mother wouldn’t play you,” Stewart said. “Shouldn’t. If she does, she’s doing it out of just love.”

In the last two minutes, White was Missouri’s go-to guy with the Tigers’ last seven points. White was 5 of 6 at the free-throw line and hit a layup.

Missouri (12-9 overall, 4-4 Big 12) is 10-1 at the Hearnes Center with the lone loss in December to Coppin State. Against ISU, Missouri had only nine turnovers.

On the road, the Tigers have lost 19 in a row dating to February 1996 and they’re 0-6 this season. Their last game was an embarrassing 20-point loss at Texas Tech on Wednesday.

“We’re tired of hearing about it,” freshman point guard Brian Grawer said. “But we’ve got to get back out there and play.”

White lost his starting spot to John Woods after a 2-for-9 shooting game at Texas Tech. Woods hit five of six shots and added 12 points for Missouri, which ended a seven-game losing streak against ISU (10-11, 3-5).

Both team’s top scorers had off-games.

Kelly Thames, averaging 14.7 points for Missouri, missed his first nine shots and finished 2-for-13 with six points. Thames led Missouri with 10 rebounds, however.

Freshman Marcus Fizer, averaging 15 points for ISU, was scoreless and in foul trouble much of the second half and finished with nine points.

Martin Rancik had 11 points and Klay Edwards had 14 rebounds and eight points for ISU, which beat Missouri 75-62 in Ames on Jan. 10.

But the Cyclones, who had led 28-24 at halftime, are winless in five conference games on the road.

“They played well at our home, we played well here,” ISU Coach Tim Floyd said. “They have a very sophisticated crowd.”

Grawer had two steals and two three-pointers during a 15-0 run that put Missouri in control, giving the Tigers a 45-35 lead with 11:37 to play.

ISU had led 35-30 after a basket by Lee Love at the 16:01 mark but didn’t score again for more than five minutes.

“We turned it over three or four times and didn’t get back on defense,” Floyd said. “They were able to get cheap baskets that they weren’t able to get during the first half.”

The Cyclones closed the gap to 49-46 on a follow shot by Paul Shirley with 7:23 left, but Missouri scored the next seven points.