Cyclones squander late lead, fall to Kansas State

Head+Coach+Bill+Fennelly+talks+with+the+ref+after+a+questionable+call+during+the+Iowa+State+Vs+UC+Riverside+basketball+game+Dec+17.+The+Cyclones+Defeated+Riverside+89-66

Head Coach Bill Fennelly talks with the ref after a questionable call during the Iowa State Vs UC Riverside basketball game Dec 17. The Cyclones Defeated Riverside 89-66

Jack Macdonald

On Wednesday night, a “The Office” themed night, Iowa State squandered a third quarter lead en route to a 67-60 loss to Kansas State. 

The loss drops the Cyclones to 1-4 in the Big 12 and with each loss, the hopes of a postseason tournament is inching away. 

The Cyclones started out hot, taking a 19-18 lead into the second quarter. However, like the first four Big 12 games, the Cyclones went cold. They shot just 4-of-14 from the floor and the teams went into halftime knotted at 30. 

The third quarter, which appeared to be the turning point, ended up dooming the Cyclones. Kansas State shot just six percent from the field in the third quarter, but was able to erase a 10-point lead the Cyclones had built. 

To make matters worse, the Wildcats went off in the final quarter for 29 points. Those 29 points flipped the script and propelled them to their second Big 12 win of the season. 

Junior Bride Kennedy-Hopoate led the Cyclones with 17 points, all of which came in the second half. Fellow junior Bridget Carleton posted a team-high 11 rebounds. 

The Cyclones return to action on Saturday when they travel to Texas Tech.