The tank ran out of gas. Again.

The Iowa State Cyclone football team couldn’t hold off a late Oklahoma State stampede as ISU fell to the Cowboys by a tally of 28-27.

”Most of the third quarter and all of the fourth quarter, they dominated our defense,” Iowa State coach Dan McCarney said. ”I think you saw an inspired Oklahoma State team that took over. We couldn’t slow them down, they knocked us off the ball and controlled the line of scrimmage.”

Troy Davis became the ISU all-time leading rusher, surpassing Dexter Green. Davis’ 238-yard effort Saturday lifted his all-time rushing yardage to 3,482, eclipsing Green’s old record of 3,437. Davis also raised his average of 208 yards per game to 214 yards per game.

”The records mean a lot, but we lost the game,” Davis said. ”It would have meant more if we would have won. We need to improve as a whole team.”

In a game that featured two of the nation’s top running backs, OSU’s Andre Richardson proved he’s a pretty decent runner, too.

Richardson, a junior who has been waiting his turn behind Oklahoma State’s David Thompson, ran for a career-high 173 yards and scored two touchdowns Saturday.

”He knows he’s a big part of this offense and has been all year,” coach Bob Simmons said of Richardson, who most often is used as a flanker. ”He hasn’t been back at the tailback position as much as he’d like, but he’s always been ready and he just stepped up and did an exceptional job.”

”Their offensive line was more physical in the second half and they just took over the line of scrimmage,” ISU coach Dan McCarney said. ”We didn’t show enough mental toughness and resiliency in the second half to win. They knocked us off the ball.”

Oklahoma State’s defense also came through after having no luck slowing the Cyclones through 2 1/2 quarters. Iowa State’s final three drives netted 93 yards and just three points.

”We had this game,” ISU offensive tackle Tim Kohn said. ”I couldn’t tell you what happened. I’m kind of in shock right now. We should have learned our lesson after the Wyoming game.”

ISU came out battling, scoring on a Jamie Kohl 26 yard field goal with 11:14 remaining in the first quarter. After a solid defensive effort, ISU came back with a 10-play, 77-yard drive that ended with Davis scampering in from one yard out to bring the score to 10-0 with 3:45.

It was Davis again with a six-yard touchdown with 5:58 remaining in the second quarter before Oklahoma State got on the board just before halftime with a 13-play, 78-yard drive that concluded with a Cowboy David Thompson going in from one yard out to bring the halftime score to 17-7.

The Cyclones once again came out strong on the opening drive of the second half by going 80 yards on 13 plays where a Todd Doxzon touchdown pass to Dennis DiBiase put the ‘Clones up, 24-7.

From there, things got rough for ISU. Oklahoma State answered with with 14 straight points on Richardson’s 20 yard touchdown and a Tone’ Jones eight-yard run to bring OSU within three points at 24-21.

ISU’s Jamie Kohl, who was kicking 65-yard field goals during warm-ups, put the Cyclones up by six, 27-21, with a 33-yard field goal with 12:52 remaining in the fourth quarter. But that was all the Cyclones could muster, as OSU again answered with a Richardson 21-yard run with 9:55 left in the game to give the Cowboys a 28-27 lead. The Cyclones couldn’t answer, as an incomplete pass on third down gave the ball back to OSU.

The Cowboys then strung together a drive that ran out the remaining 7:38 of the game, before electing not to score and downing the ball on the Cyclone three-yard line to run the clock out.

Iowa State (2-4 overall, 1-2 conference) will travel to Waco, Texas next week to take on the Baylor Bears.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.