The potential story lines for the Cyclones game against No. 3 Baylor were numerous.

Nikki Moody would likely break the school’s all-time assist record, ISU coach Bill Fennelly could potentially earn his 600th career win and on top of everything, it was senior day against the No. 3 team in the country.

When the final buzzer sounded and three ISU seniors walked off the court at Hilton Coliseum for the final time in their careers, one storyline stood far above the rest.

And it was a simple one: Iowa State (18-10, 9-8 Big 12) upset No. 3 Baylor (26-3, 15-2 Big 12) and possibly solidified its spot in the NCAA tournament.

Those other storylines happened. Moody broke the assist record early in the game and then kept on going to the tune of 11 assists in the game.

Fennelly earned his 600th win. The seniors, Moody, Brynn Williamson and Fallon Ellis, put on a sensational performance in which they scored a combined 48 points.

But all that hoopla palled in comparison to what was really important.

“It’s a step closer to the NCAA tournament and that’s our ultimate goal,” Williamson said.

The old cliché in sports rings true for the Cyclones on this night. Enjoy the victory for tonight, but come tomorrow, it’s back to work.

But for now, the Cyclones will enjoy the upset victory against another top-10 team.

The win against Baylor marks the third time this season that the unranked Cyclones knocked off a top-10 squad, after beating Texas twice, once while they were ranked third and once while ranked eighth.

But this time was extra special, at least in part due to the fact that it came against Baylor, a team Fennelly had previously called the “gold standard” of the Big 12.

“I think it’s a lot more exciting just because the fact that its Baylor,” Moody said. “Baylor is a great team. … Usually [against Baylor] it doesn’t go our way and this time we stuck it out and got the win and that’s really special for all of us.”

It was also special to the team and especially to the seniors because of all it encompasses. The three seniors will forever remember their final game on their home court as the time they beat No. 3 Baylor.

The moment and the emotions it brought about were too much for the trio to hold in.

“Coach Fennelly always talks about those games that you’ll remember and this tops it all,” Williamson said. “It’s a night that I got to share with two people that have been here for four years and we stuck through a lot of ups and downs. To go out there and see that final score with Iowa State on top, it’s going to be something that we’ll remember forever.”

The team’s season has not yet concluded. The Cyclones still have another regular season game, Big 12 Championship aspirations and NCAA tournament hopes. They still have the chance to add more memories and more “special” moments.

But the win against Baylor was a pleasant reminder of why they do what they do and why they work so hard day in and day out. Perhaps even a little added encouragement and motivation as the team plows forward toward its postseason goals.

“These are the days when its fun to coach,” Fennelly said. “To see the look on their faces, see the fans, that’s why you go to work everyday.”