The ISU men’s basketball trip to Spain for a series of exhibition games didn’t start on the right foot Wednesday.

Iowa State was dropped by the Venezuelan National Team, 82-77, despite an early 20-2 lead in its first game action of the 2015-16 season. The team was carrying six scholarship players and nine overall. 

With the Cyclones leading 20-2 with just under four minutes left in the first quarter, Venezuela jumped on a 12-3 run to close the gap. 

Going into halftime, the Cyclones were clinging to a 36-31 lead. 

Venezuela hit three 3-point shots early in the third quarter and cruised 56-46 lead going into the final quarter. 

The Cyclones closed the gap to three but time ran out before their momentum could grab them the victory. 

ISU point guard Monté Morris led the Cyclones with 21 points and eight assists while shooting 3 of 4 from 3-point range. 

“We started off great,” said ISU head coach Steve Prohm. “As the game went on, the game slowed down. We started getting half-court a little more and missed some shots and took some quick shots. … At this time of the year, to play 40 minutes, it’s tough right now.”