The Iowa State men’s basketball team relied on a strong second half defensive effort to overcome sloppy ball handling and a scrappy Drake defensive press Wednesday night as the Cyclones downed the Bulldogs by a score of 65-62.

“Anytime this team goes on the road, I’m hoping to go 40 minutes. We had to make it ugly to win. The defense was there in the end,” ISU head coach Tim Floyd told the Cyclone Radio Network, 107.1 KCCQ.

Iowa State tallied 21 turnovers, including 10 in the first 10 minutes of the game.

“We looked brutal against the press, but you have to give Drake credit. That’s something we have to work on,” Floyd said. “Carlo (Walton) and Jacy (Holloway) had a difficult time getting this offense going, but it’s something I know they can do.”

Despite a poor showing in the first half, the Cyclones were shooting 63 percent going into the halftime locker room with a one-point lead. That lead increased to an 11-point lead before a late Drake charge brought the score to 63-62. “We shot well early. Our rebounding was bad early in the game. We have to get better there,” Floyd said.

With six seconds left in the game, freshman center Tony Rampton missed two free throws. Drake point guard Dan Knuckey grabbed the rebound and kicked the ball out to Bulldog senior forward B.J. Windhorst. Windhorst then launched a 24-foot jumper that banged off the back of the rim as time expired.

“Tony had some big defensive plays at the end of the game. He didn’t hit his free throws down the stretch, but that’s not his bag. That’s not what he does. Overall, I think he played well,” Floyd said.

ISU junior forward Kenny Pratt led the Cyclones in scoring with 17 points, including a late three-pointer.

While Pratt’s offensive effort was exceptional, his defensive effort, in conjunction with teammate Shawn Bankhead, held Drake’s long-range threat B.J. Windhorst to 13 points.

“We’ve got to have Pratt and Bankhead on the floor. They held Windhorst to 13 points. B.J. is a guy that is capable of having 30 35-point nights,” Floyd said. “Kenny stepped up and hit a big three. This is from a guy who hasn’t hit one, I don’t think, since he’s been here.”

Iowa State’s big gun Dedrick Willoughby, who averages 22.5 points a game, was held to a season-low 12 points, while only attempting 10 shots.

“That’s almost a plus to me. That tells me that teams are recognizing him. He could have been selfish and just tried to get his points, but he didn’t. He was about winning,” Floyd said.

Iowa State, 5-0, will face their toughest challenge yet when the 12th-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes invade Hilton Coliseum on Saturday.

“We’ve got to make great strides in rebounding. Iowa kills you on the boards. They are as strong on the boards as any team I’ve coached,” Floyd said.

Saturday’s game will begin at 8 p.m.