The Cyclones were no match for the pace and athleticism of Texas, losing 72-58 on the road against the eighth ranked Longhorns.

A first half defensive collapse and Tyrese Hunter getting the last laugh were enough for Texas to pick up redemption against the Cyclones.

Open season for Hunter

After being held scoreless in the final 32 minutes of the game the first time these teams faced off, Hunter got his revenge.

Hunter came out firing on all cylinders to start the game, scoring 12 points on 4-8 shooting.

Thanks to the large lead Hunter helped build, the Longhorns did not have to rely on his scoring late in the game.

Hunter closed out the game with 15 points on 5-9 shooting tying the game-high.

The former Cyclone got the last laugh with a blowout win in Texas, and the Longhorns are in hot pursuit of the top spot in the conference.

Gabe Kalscheur said he was circling this matchup ahead of the season, and he and Hunter ended up with the season split in the regular season.

First half to forget

The first half was among the worst halves the Cyclones have played all year. What is usually one of the best defenses in the Big 12 allowed 47 points in the opening frame.

Texas shot 9-16 from three as a team in the first half, knocking down just about every open look given.

The Cyclones were not making life easier for themselves, turning the ball over 11 times in the half.

While the Cyclones brought a lot more energy to the second half, it was simply too little, too late with a 47-29 deficit against a top-10 team.

Iowa State has struggled with second halves as of late, but this time around, it was the first half that made the difference.

Time is winding down

Now 2-6 in their last eight games, the Cyclones are going through a tough stretch. There are three games left in the season for Iowa State to get back on track.

Taking on Oklahoma and West Virginia at home and Baylor on the road, this is the last chance for Iowa State to clean things up for postseason play.

Through the tough stretch, head coach T.J. Otzelberger and the Cyclones have stressed the importance of remaining mentally tough.

Caleb Grill’s injury will be something to watch moving forward after missing his second game in a row.

The Cyclones will return home over the weekend, playing at 11 a.m. Saturday in a matchup against Oklahoma.