For the third time this season, a No. 1-ranked team in the NCAA fell against a team from Iowa.

Iowa State followed in the footsteps of Northern Iowa and Iowa, downing the top-ranked team in the country this season. It was Iowa State’s first win against a No. 1 team since 1957. 

The victim this time was No. 1 Oklahoma (15-2, 4-2 Big 12). No. 19 Iowa State’s 82-77 win improves the Cyclones to 14-4 and 3-3 in Big 12 play after a rough Big 12 start.

Iowa State used a 14-4 run, that included 9-0 spurt, to end the first half. Niang had 10 of those 14 points. Iowa State led 41-35 at the break.

Oklahoma battled back, providing a highly entertaining second half of play. Iowa State used another big run in the second half to regain the lead.

The Cyclones held Oklahoma scoreless for nearly four minutes and used a 10-0 run during that span to go up 67-59 with 5:14 left in the game.

Oklahoma responded with an 8-0 run to tie the game with four minutes remaining. Monte Morris drilled a corner 3-pointer and Abdel Nader hit a pair of free throws, giving Iowa State a 3-point lead with a minute remaining.

Oklahoma hit a tying 3-pointer with 45 seconds remaining to tie the game once again. Morris would hit a pull-up jumper with 21 seconds to go to give Iowa State the lead. Oklahoma would miss and foul Morris with nine seconds remaining. 

Morris hit both, extending the lead to four, but Oklahoma took a quick two and cut Iowa State’s lead to two with four seconds remaining. 

Iowa State utilized a creative inbounds play, where Niang passed the ball to Matt Thomas, who ran out of bounds. An Oklahoma played touched Thomas while he was out of bounds before the ball was inbounded, and was called for a technical.

Thomas hit the technical free throw, boosting the lead to three. Iowa State got the ball back as a result of the technical, forcing Oklahoma to foul. Nader hit both of his shots, giving Iowa State the victory.