Led by an emotional Donovan Jackson, Iowa State played close with TCU at Hilton Coliseum Wednesday night, but the Cyclones fell short at the end. TCU won by a final score of 89-83.

Here are three takeaways from the game.

Jackson’s emotional night

Iowa State was led both on and off the court by senior guard Donovan Jackson on Wednesday. Jackson was dealing with the death of his father, Donald, who died on Saturday.

Opening statement from coach Prohm. #Cyclones pic.twitter.com/5D12aDJ0Im

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Jackson was with his family in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for two days leading up to the game, but made the trip back to Ames to play.

And boy, did he play. Jackson led the team with 27 points (7-of-19 shooting) just days after the death of his father.

“It means a lot,” said redshirt junior forward Zoran Talley Jr., who finished with 12 points and six rebounds. “He didn’t have to come back and play, he could’ve spent time with his family back home. He came out and gave us his all. He did the things his father expected him to do tonight.”

Jackson’s 27 points weren’t enough to lead Iowa State to a victory, but he said he felt like he made his father proud.

“I just know that he would want me to come out here and compete,” said an emotional Jackson. “He always used to tell me, ‘attack the basket, attack the basket, get to the free throw line.’ I think I got to the free throw line 10 times tonight, so I know he’s happy about that.”

Cyclones down to seven players

Iowa State was only able to use seven players against TCU because of various injuries.

Hans Brase was originally supposed to play on Wednesday, but he was a late scratch.

Additionally, Nick Weiler-Babb and Solomon Young were unable to go, and both will likely miss the rest of the season.

That left Iowa State with just seven eligible players and only two post players. The Cyclones used all seven out of necessity.

Freshman Terrence Lewis played 12 minutes and scored six points (2-of-4 shooting). In 14 minutes, sophomore Jakolby Long tallied three points and two assists.

“We had opportunities to win this game,” said coach Steve Prohm. “We just gotta mature in a lot of areas.

“I thought Terrence did some good things… he wants to do right, he wants to do well. He went 2-of-3 from three, but the one he missed was a bad shot. He knew that and I told him that.”

Lewis was also whistled for a technical foul in the second half as part of a double technical with TCU’s Desmond Bane.

Prohm said Lewis came into the locker room and apologized after the game for the technical foul, which was a sign of growth and maturity.

“He handled it the right way after the fact,” Prohm said. “He probably wouldn’t have [apologized in the locker room] two months ago.”

Season winds down

Iowa State has just three regular season games left before the Big 12 Tournament. At 13-14 overall and 4-11 in the Big 12, it’s unlikely that Iowa State would get a postseason invitation without a run in the Big 12 Tournament.

Iowa State currently sits in dead last in the Big 12, two games behind Texas, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State at 6-9.

Iowa State will be without Donovan Jackson when it takes on West Virginia on Saturday. Jackson will be back home in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for his father’s funeral, meaning the Cyclones will once again be short-handed.

Iowa State will then return home to play the Oklahoma State Cowboys for the final home game of the season before heading to Norman, Oklahoma, to take on the Sooners in the season finale.