There is a well known cliché in sports, which posits that offense wins games, but defense wins championships.

Judging by that woefully incomplete maxim, defense may not specifically win games, but in Iowa State’s case, a lack of defense can certainly lose them.

One game after No. 14 Iowa State allowed fewer points to Texas Tech than it had to any conference opponent in 48 years, the team surrendered its highest defensive total of the season at No. 17 Oklahoma.

The Sooners unloaded 94 points on the Cyclones, sinking Iowa State to third place in the Big 12 standings and perpetuating a trend of defensive distress that has plagued the Cyclones for much of the season.

Iowa State has surrendered 91.5 points per game in its last two road contests at Kansas and at Oklahoma. Yet, it is not the point totals that trouble ISU coach Fred Hoiberg the most, but the manner of efficiency in which they are being produced.

“Points per game for us is going to be higher because of the pace we play,” Hoiberg said, after limiting Texas Tech to a 38-point total Feb. 7. “But still, our adjusted defense isn’t very good. It’s last in our conference. That can get a lot better.”

Iowa State plays faster than all but 12 teams in the country, according to the adjusted tempo rating on Kenpom.com, and averages only 14.4 seconds per offensive possession, the second quickest numbers in the nation.

This allows the Cyclones to play the style they want offensively, creating more shots on more possessions and maximizing an adjusted offensive rating that ranks sixth in the country at more than 118 points per 100 possessions, adjusted to opponents.

In simpler terms, playing fast allows Hoiberg to take advantage of the most successful aspects of his team and higher defensive point totals are merely a by-product of Iowa State’s style, albeit one that can be overcome when the Cyclones function optimally on offense.

However, Iowa State’s adjusted defensive efficiency is 99.2, according to Kenpom. Adjusted ratings are a measure of points allowed per 100 possessions, accounting for the quality of each opponent and where the games were played, among other factors.

Iowa State’s rating of 99.2 ranks 119th nationally and is the second worst mark of any team currently in the top 25, ahead of only Notre Dame. For context, per the hard numbers, the Cyclones’ defensive prowess is on par with the likes of Cleveland State and South Dakota State.

“We are last [in the Big 12] in a couple of categories defensively and we’re looking to change that,” said guard Naz Long. “Coach has just put emphasis on us taking pride and keeping our man in front of us.”

The defensive pride, which was so evident in Iowa State’s results against Texas Tech two days previous, evaporated down the stretch of the first half in Norman, Okla. In the second half, it appeared to all but disappear as the Sooners drilled open 3-pointers when ISU defenders went under ball screens and attacked an inviting rim that remained mostly unprotected during the final 20 minutes.

After the Texas Tech victory, Hoiberg discussed multiple defensive areas that he said were in need of improvement moving forward to supplement the Cyclones’ efficiency. He highlighted 3-point defense and limiting second-chance points specifically.

He might as well have been predicting the future.

Oklahoma connected from deep at a clip of 47.6 percent — roughly 10 points higher than Iowa State’s conference average, which was already one of the worst marks in the Big 12.

The Sooners also snatched 13 offensive rebounds, providing themselves with multiple opportunities even when they did fail to find the net on their first attempt.

Hoiberg and Long had also talked about running shooters off of the 3-point line and funneling them to ISU defensive anchor Jameel McKay.

“I always preach to the guards to send them my way and then I always have their back,” McKay said. 

McKay’s preachings proved to be false gospel, on Feb. 9 at least, as the Sooners’ 6-foot-8-inch bruisers, Ryan Spangler and TaShawn Thomas, combined for 36 points and 23 rebounds versus the ISU front-line. 

Iowa State is now tasked with picking up the pieces before a crucial game at Hilton against West Virginia on Feb. 14, but should receive some respite from a WVU team that lingers at the bottom of the Big 12 in field goal percentage and total offensive production. 

[A sweep of West Virginia] would be huge,” Long said. “In this league, anyone could drop a game on any given night.”