NORMAN, Oklahoma — Iowa State wasn’t going to lose another close one. 

In the last five games entering Saturday, the Cyclones were 1-4 in games decided by five points or less. All four of those losses came against teams who are currently ranked.

And late in Saturday’s game against Oklahoma at the Lloyd Noble Center, Iowa State looked destined — multiple times —  to add another tally to the loss column. The Sooners held favorable leads three times throughout the game, but each time, Iowa State came roaring back. 

In the process, the Cyclones turned around their late-game woes and pulled out the 92-87 victory on the road, one that could prove to be a turning point in the team’s season.

It also was the fifth time in the last seven games against Oklahoma that the winning team was trailing by double digits at one point in the game.

“I just want to say how proud I am of these guys,” coach Steve Prohm said as his voice starter to waver. “When you go through tough situations, you reveal your character and we revealed that at a high level today.”

From the opening tip until about halfway through the first half, Iowa State looked doomed, turning the ball over nine times in the first 12 minutes while only making six field goals. It was one of the worst starts for the Cyclones in recent memory.

But the Cyclones weren’t going away easy.

The Cyclones, finding pace and stout defense, rattled off a 21-1 run to close out the first half up 30-29.

Forward Merrill Holden, who had been benched the last five games, came on to help spur the run and had nine minutes of playing time in the first half. He ended the night with seven rebounds, two blocks and zero points. He didn’t even attempt a field goal, but his play transcended the stat sheet.

“It was good,” Prohm said. “Obviously, in the first half, he gave us a huge lift. The seven rebounds and the two blocks and he was great. This game is great. Sports are great because it puts it tests you to where what your character. He was obviously upset and frustrated, and I said he’d have an opportunity, probably this weekend, and he responded.”

Holden said earlier in the week he expected to play Saturday after having a discussion with Prohm, but Prohm was hesitant to give a definitive answer. 

Holden certainly put up a good case for minutes going forward.

“I thought I played well defensively,” Holden said. “That’s all my team really needs from me is to protect the rim and rebound and stay strong in the paint.”

Despite Holden’s contributions, which became scarce late in the game save a big block in the closing minutes, Iowa State looked to be down and out again midway trough the second half. 

Another player — this time forward Deonte Burton — stepped up. 

Burton scored 14 points of a 16-point Iowa State stretch and brought the Cyclones back to life while the team traded blows the Sooners. He credited his big night — 31 points and six rebounds — to Holden’s energy off the bench. 

“Seeing Merrill come off the bench after not playing the last four or five games and he came off with the same energy,” Burton said. “He made me play better.” 

The Cyclones forced an eventual overtime. And again, Iowa State found itself in a unfavorable position. With more than a minute to go in overtime, the Cyclones were down six. 

Naz Mitrou-Long took care of that, putting up six straight points, sending the game into another overtime, where the Cyclones would grab the victory.  

Iowa State’s rebounding margin, which ranked last in the Big 12 entering Saturday, was just -9, a good number considering the past few games. 

It certainly wasn’t the prettiest win, considering the team’s woes early on, but there will be no complaints. 

“Tonight, we wanted to win,” Burton said. “We stayed tough throughout the whole game. Coach told us that we need to be tougher and we just stepped up.”