ISU coach Fred Hoiberg has made alterations to his starting lineup out of necessity this season, but for the first time since he’s had the full roster at his disposal, Hoiberg switched up his personnel by choice.

The decision, however, was not a tactical one.

Guard Bryce Dejean-Jones showed up late for Iowa State’s game against Texas Tech on Feb. 7, prompting Hoiberg to call the number of forward Jameel McKay, who earned his first start as a Cyclone.

The move proved effective, as No. 11 Iowa State (17-5, 7-3 Big 12) dismantled Texas Tech to the tune of a 75-38 victory, exacting revenge on a team that handed the Cyclones a five-point loss two weeks prior in Lubbock, Texas.

McKay took advantage of the opportunity, pouring in 17 points and grabbing eight rebounds.

“I approached the game like I approach it if I came off the bench,” McKay said. “With the help of my teammates, they looked for me early on and made it comfortable for me.”

One such teammate was guard Naz Long, who had slowed down since a 20-point performance in Iowa State’s home victory against Kansas, averaging under seven points per contest on 33.3 percent shooting during the course of the team’s previous four games.

Long said that avenging the loss added an element of elevated emotion to the second go-round versus the Red Raiders.

“Having lost a big one down there, we took this personal,” Long said.

The personal nature of the contest manifested itself into an effort that produced Iowa State’s best statistical game of the year on the defensive side of the ball and led to a 37-point margin of victory, the largest for the ISU program against a conference opponent in the last 20 years.

Iowa State tightened up its perimeter defense and held Texas Tech to a 4-of-20 mark from deep-a substantial improvement from Iowa State’s initial effort versus Texas Tech, when the Red Raiders scored 33 points from long range on 24 attempts.

“They weren’t as comfortable. They were so comfortable [in Lubbock], especially early in that game with getting uncontested shots,” Hoiberg said. “That has been a big emphasis in practice the last few days.”

McKay’s presence was also felt heavily on the defensive side of the ball, as he accumulated three blocks and two steals, while altering a number of Texas Tech’s shot attempts in the lane.

“I always preach to the guards to send [the men they are defending] my way, and then I always have their back,” McKay said. “Then I just contest the shot and make it hard.”

Despite McKay’s performances on both ends of the floor, Hoiberg said he has not made a decision on whether or not the 6-foot-9-inch shot-changer will be a permanent fixture in the starting lineup moving forward.

The ISU coach won’t have much time to consider the possibility, as Iowa State heads to Oklahoma for a battle against the Sooners on Feb. 9.

It will be the third time in three weeks that the Cyclones will play on ESPN’s Big Monday, and the third time in three weeks they will play two games in three days.

Tip off in Norman, Okla. is set for 8 p.m.