The Iowa State men’s basketball team, led by an stingy defensive effort and senior center Kelvin Cato’s 15 points and 15 rebounds, bounced back from a shocking 67-64 home loss to Marquette to pound Oklahoma by a final of 82-55.

“I was really proud of this basketball team today. I think that individually, they had their best defensive game of the year. Across the board they were outstanding,” said ISU Head Basketball Coach Tim Floyd.

The Cyclones came out on fire, building an 11 point lead with 11:47 left when ISU senior forward Kenny Pratt was fouled by Oklahoma’s Nate Erdman as he sunk a layup in the lane.

Pratt finished the game with 15 points and seven rebounds.

Oklahoma then made a run to bring the score to 22-24 before the Cyclones would build a 41-34 lead at the half.

Cato made his presence felt early, collecting eight rebounds in the first half to go along with a couple a thunderous dunks that brought the near sellout crowd to their feet.

“Kelvin was great. He did a fine job on defense. He also did a great job on the boards,” Floyd said.

The second half was all ISU. The Cyclone defense shut down the Sooners offense while building a game high 27 point lead in the second half before the starting five systematically left the floor to a cheering crowd.

ISU senior guard Dedric Willoughby also had a big game, finishing with 21 points, including three of six shooting from beyond the arc. The Cyclone bench also came though for Floyd’s team.

Freshman forward Stevie Johnson and junior forward Brad Johnson each contributed. Stevie Johnson added six points and two rebounds while Brad Johnson added four points and two rebounds.

“The bench was outstanding. It was by far their best effort. I thought Stevie Johnson played much more relaxed today. He did a fine job,” Floyd said.

The Oklahoma victory, according to Floyd and company, had a a higher degree of importance than just a Big 12 Conference game.

Floyd, who was admittedly nervous about the Sooner game, called an 8 a.m. practice on Saturday in order to make sure his team was prepared.

“I was uptight. I think the whole staff was uptight. If it had been last year’s team then I don’t think I would have been. But it looks like this team has the same sense of urgency as last year’s team did. That’s encouraging,” Floyd said.

Willoughby, along with his teammates, were surprised by Floyd’s early morning practice tactics.

“I thought it was just going to be a run-through. But we showed up and coach told us to line up. Then I knew it was going to be an actual practice. It was a very intense practice,” Willoughby said. “He’s (Floyd) a mystery. You never know with him. He could stop the bus and tell us to get out and line up. You have to be ready for anything.”

Despite the surprise workout, the Cyclones never questioned the strategy of Floyd.

“Since we lost the Marquette game, he started getting on us in practice, making us work harder. It’s definitely for the best and it will help us out in the long run,” senior forward Shawn Bankhead said.

The Cyclones will have to work even harder in order to prepare for the nation’s No. 1-ranked Kansas today. The Cyclones will travel to Lawrence, Kansas in attempts to stop the Jayhawks’ 16-game winning streak.

Trying to defend a team with the likes of Jacque Vaughn, Scott Pollard, Raef LaFrentz and Paul Pierce is a task Floyd deems difficult to say the least.

“It’s very difficult to prepare for a team like Kansas. They have so many great players. Kansas has it all. They have great coaching, great players and great depth at every position. I hope the Kansas-Baylor game goes into a triple overtime. I hope they get tired. As much energy as it will take for Bankhead to guard Paul Pierce, I hope they are tired,” Floyd said.

“They say the favorite for player of the year is Tim Duncan, but Pierce should get some votes.

Bankhead welcomes the challenge.

“I’ll just do what I got to do. I’ll do my best. I know Paul Pierce from out in LA. We’re both LA boys. I’ve heard of him and he heard of me when we were younger. We’re friends off the court, but we’ll be on the court. That makes us enemies.” Bankhead said.