Well, I am back from a three- week vacation.

Iowa State finished off its season by losing three of its last four games.

It was also the third straight loss against the Oklahoma State Cowboys.

There is a similarity here. The number three.

Coincidence? Maybe, maybe not. But we can discuss this at another time and place.

It’s been a rough ending to a rough season, one that has caused Tim Floyd countless headaches, I imagine.

From a season that promised big things, the Cyclones were cursed by farfetched and unearned status in the rankings. Even though the ‘Clones were able to sustain a winning record, it could have been bolstered had the Cyclones remembered the game has two halves.

But I don’t blame Tim Floyd. The poor man has been through a lot this season, with Kenny Pratt’s legal situation, and Dedric Willoughby’s health. It didn’t help that Kelvin Cato was out of action yesterday.

The Cowboys, with their domination of the Cyclones for three years now, are a decent team. They ended the season 15-13 overall, 7-9 in the Big 12. But the real impressive numbers are their home statistics. 13-2 at home. Wow. I’d recommend that they not leave home next season.

But back to ‘Clones.

The ‘Clones had the lead at the half. An 11-point lead. Five minutes into the second half, the ‘Clones were leading by 14.

The Cyclones were royally kicking some butt, and they were in the Cowboy’s house. Alas, the gap slipped away.

In the last six seconds of the game, there was a foul on Shawn Bankhead, and Desmond Mason of the Cowboys makes both. With a four-point lead, it was over.

Basketball has always been a fast paced game. Teams run up large leads quickly. But Iowa State had control of the board from the first seconds of the game to the last five minutes.

I am searching for reasons for yesterday’s loss. I don’t know what to say. I am speechless, almost as bad as my presidential debate — and that was bad.

Iowa State seemed to get worse as the season dragged on. But I wouldn’t blame it on fatigue. All teams played under the same conditions.

I am looking for a way to describe the team’s performance. Maybe its loss was as ugly as the rebirth of Pat Boone. Sorry, I went too far. Choke is by far a better description.

In the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, one of the definitions of the word choke is to perform badly in a critical situation.

If that doesn’t honestly describe the ‘Clones performance or seem to go into enough detail, tell me what does — my e-mail is [email protected] — for I am running out of material, and have considered refuting the claim that golf is not a sport.

Well, in conclusion, if there is anything good that comes out of this season, it is that Iowa State still has a shot for some spectacular post season play.

That is, if they don’t choke. Or gag. Or strangle. Or suffocate…

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RORY FLAHERTY is a junior in construction engineering from LaMars.