The 12th-ranked Iowa Hawkeye basketball team barely escaped Hilton Coliseum Saturday night as the Cyclones came just short of their first upset of the year.

Iowa State held the Hawkeyes to 19 points in the first half, while only scoring 14 points in the lowest scoring half in an Iowa-Iowa State game since a halftime score of 18-15 in favor of the Hawks on Jan. 1, 1935. The Cyclones went on to win that game, 41-33.

Iowa head basketball coach Tom Davis said he was impressed with the Cyclone defense and even more with ISU head basketball coach Tim Floyd.

“I mentioned Coach Floyd after the game, and I’m just getting to know him. What he’s done with all those new guys is really a tribute to the kind of coach that he is,” Davis said.

The Cyclones’ scrappy defense disrupted the Hawkeyes and their big-gun offense. When the first half buzzer sounded, Iowa’s Chris Kingsbury and Jess Settles combined for a total of nine points.

“They (ISU) caused us all kinds of problems and I thought they played great defense and really disrupted us. Luckily, we were playing really well on the defensive end ourselves,” Davis said. “Those kids played hard, and we were real appreciative in getting the win. Obviously, it didn’t come very easy.”

In the second half, Hilton Magic once again played a part in the game. With the Cyclones trailing, 37-48, with just over three minutes to go in the game, the magic struck. Iowa State forward Kenny Pratt, who led all scorers with 18 points, started the rally with a four-footer in the lane. ISU’s leading scorer Dedrick Willoughby then stole the ball and knocked down a 17-footer to bring the Cyclones within seven points.

After a defensive stand it was Willoughby with a missed free throw that was tipped in by defensive standout Shawn Bankhead. The lead was down to 44-48 before the Iowa State press struck again with Jacy Holloway coming up with the steal and dishing to Willoughby. Willoughby, after a quick fake, knocked down a long three to bring the Cyclones within one point, 47-48.

But the Cyclones came up short at the free throw line when Pratt had the chance to take the lead. Pratt missed his first free throw and had his second free throw waived off by a lane violation by Willoughby.

“We had a difficult crowd. I thought our crowd was super. They kept us hanging around and kept us fighting. I was very proud of our team and the fact that we played with some poise after a tough five minute stretch in the first half,” Floyd said.

“I would say the one big difference is that a year ago, in the second half over at Iowa, we stepped up and made some big shots, and this team didn’t.”

Iowa’s confident shooting guard Kingsbury claimed to be unaffected by the Cyclone charge.

“We had ’em,” Kingsbury said. “This is a different team from last year. I think this game meant more to them than it did to us.”

One point was as close as Iowa State would come. Down by two points, with six seconds left, Willoughby was called for an intentional foul against Kingsbury.

“Willoughby was hobbling around out there on his leg, but played 40 minutes and did a nice job on Kingsbury when he was in there,” Floyd said. “They had a look to foul Kingsbury with 16 seconds, but elected not to take it. We intended for (Iowa guard Kenyon) Murray to get the ball, but he didn’t. We waited way too late. That’s great in retrospect.”

Kingsbury, who has recently denied rumors of academic troubles, but has been in trouble with a prior alcohol-related incident, faced chants of “Alcoholic” throughout the entire game.

“It’s funny,” Kingsbury said. “I like it. It gives them something to do when they’re losing. It doesn’t bother me.”

When Kingsbury stepped to the line, a member of the crowd threw what appeared to be chapstick on the floor. Kingsbury responded by picking the object up and acted as if he was going throw it back at the crowd.

“I was just playing around. You know what I mean,” Kingsbury said.

Kingsbury followed this incident by draining two free throws to put Iowa up by a score of 54-50. Iowa then inbounded the ball to a wide open Kenyon Murray. Murray took one step and finished the game with a dunk.

“I think our guys will be aware that they played a ranked team and maybe the best rebounding team in the country. We can do other things to overcome our shortcoming to hang around and win,” Floyd said. While Iowa is considered one of the top rebounding teams in the country, ISU finished the game with only three rebounds less than the Hawkeyes. Iowa had 34 compared to the Cyclones’ 31.

“Coach Floyd stressed that all week long. It’s good for us to hang in there because many people think they’re the top rebounding team in the nation, and to only give them three on us is pretty good,” said freshman forward Klay Edwards.

Iowa State’s next game will be at Wyoming on Dec. 16 when the 5-1 Cyclones take on the Cowboys.