Iowa State (16-9, 8-5 Big 12) beat Kansas State (16-10, 5-8 Big 12) 87-79 in Manhattan, Kansas, on Wednesday night. It was the Cyclones’ second straight win after a victory against Oklahoma on Saturday. 

Here is the story from the game. 

Here are three additional takeaways. 

Iowa State hits free throws down the stretch

The Cyclones’ troubles down the stretch have been well-chronicled this season. 

Before a win against Kansas, Iowa State had narrow losses to ranked teams like Baylor, Gonzaga and Cincinnati. They just couldn’t seem to close it out. 

But on Wednesday, the Cyclones fended off the late Wildcat runs thanks to a big night at the free-throw line. Iowa State made 22 of its 26 free throws — 18 of them in the second half — to close out the game. 

“That’s big time,” said point guard Monte Morris, who made four of his five free-throw chances. “I guess we’ve got to keep doing what we’re doing in practice and keep shooting.”

Cyclones continue good vibes on the road

The Cyclones won their fourth road game in the Big 12 and the second in their last three. 

After Wednesday night’s game, Morris said he thought the team was playing its best basketball on the road. Coach Steve Prohm agreed. 

“We play better on the road for whatever reason,” Prohm said. “I don’t know. I don’t know if there’s a better focus or what, but I thought we played well against Oklahoma on Saturday. I thought that was our most complete game. So I expect us to play well on Saturday against a good team. A team that we need to take care of. Because you don’t want to get swept by a team in this league.”

Iowa State won six games on the road in 2000, which is the program’s most since the Big 12 formed in 1994. The Cyclones have two more road game this season, against Texas Tech on Monday and West Virginia in early March.

The Cyclones also grabbed one of their best road wins in program history, beating Kansas at Allen Fieldhouse a couple of weeks ago for the first time since 2005. 

“We’ve been playing better on the road, to me, this year,” Morris said. “A lot of our games came down to the last possession in conference beside TCU. We’ve just got to string some home games together and play better at home. That’s the key.”

Iowa State knocks off one game of tough 3-game stretch 

After Wednesday night, the Cyclones will prepare for TCU on Saturday and then will turn around and travel to Texas Tech on Monday. 

Prohm said the team will relax on Thursday, taking practice lightly, then will have a full-go practice Friday.