KANSAS CITY, Missouri — Iowa State came into the Big 12 Championship looking for a third straight title, but Oklahoma’s Buddy Hield proved to be quite the roadblock in that endeavor. 

Oklahoma (24-6) downed Iowa State (21-11), 79-76, behind 39 points from Hield in the quarterfinal round of the Big 12 tournament on Thursday night. 

ISU senior Georges Niang scored 14 straight points in the second half and made eight straight shots while trying to mount a comeback, but Iowa State couldn’t get enough defensive stops to overcome what was a 14-point deficit.

The Cyclones cut the Oklahoma lead to four points with 31 seconds left, but Niang fouled out and Oklahoma converted on its free throw attempts down the stretch. 

Niang scored the majority of his 31 points in the second half and chipped in seven rebounds and five assists in the loss. While Niang came alive for a big second half, Buddy Hield was essentially unstoppable in both halves.

Hield followed up his 18-point first half with 21 second-half points to finish with a game-high 39.

Oklahoma will move on to face West Virginia in the semifinal round of the Big 12 Championship. Iowa State will have to wait until Selection Sunday to see who and where it will play in the NCAA tournament, which begins next Thursday.