After Wednesday’s overtime loss at Texas Tech, No. 14 Iowa State (18-7, 7-5 Big 12) needed a win if they wanted hopes of finishing in the top half of the Big 12 Conference.

Yet at Hilton Coliseum on Saturday against No. 24 Texas (16-9, 7-5 Big 12), who has won seven of their last eight games before Saturday, the Cyclones knew it wouldn’t be an easy task.

And while it was close throughout most of the game, the Cyclones ended up on top, beating the Longhorns 85-75.

Deonte Burton scored the first six points for the Cyclones, giving Iowa State an early 6-2 lead. From there, they would jump up to a nine-point lead, and seemed in control.

Late in the second half, though, Texas pulled together a 12-0 run to give them a three point lead — putting them right back in the game. The Cyclones jumped back up just before halftime, thanks to 13-straight points from Georges Niang to give them a 36-34 lead heading into the break.

The Cyclones opened the second half jumping up to an eight-point lead, but that would be their largest of the half until the final seconds. Immediately after, Texas rallied right back, tying the game up with 10 minutes left.

With three minutes left in the game, the Cyclones were clinging to just a 31-point lead, up 73-72. Matt Thomas would knock down a pair of free throws, followed by a Monte Morris fade away jumper to give the Cyclones a 7-point lead with 64 seconds left in the game.

From there, Iowa State would win the late game free throw battle, giving them the 10-point win.

Niang and Morris both dropped 24 points and grabbed six rebounds for the Cyclones, leading the way. Thomas finished with 13 points, and Burton finished with 10.