In a matchup that is no stranger to game-winning shots over the last three seasons, the first game of the 2015 series between Iowa State and Oklahoma State ended without one because it was blocked. Twice, in fact.

The Cyclones (11-2, 1-0 Big 12) and the Cowboys (11-3, 1-1 Big 12) have created one of the most exciting college basketball matchups in recent years with five of their last six meetings coming down to a last-second shot to win the game or force an overtime. Down two points with the seconds ticking away, Tavarius Shine got the ball in the corner to take the game-winning shot. Dustin Hogue ran over to defend.

“I was just trying to make a play on the ball and I got a couple fingers on it,” Hogue said with a smile.

The “couple fingers” he got on it sent the ball flying into the fifth row of seats and forced a catch-and-shoot situation with only 0.9 seconds remaining. Phil Forte squared up for his game-winning attempt, but couldn’t get it past the fingertips of Georges Niang. Again, the shot was blocked.

The 63-61 final score is about as low-scoring as ISU fans have seen in the Hoiberg era. Instead of a game-winning three-pointer by Scott Christopherson or an overtime-forcing three-pointer by Naz Long, Iowa State relied on defense to win the game this time around.

“The thing that I told those guys in the locker room after the game is we wouldn’t have won this game last year if we shot the ball like this,” said ISU coach Fred Hoiberg. “Our defensive effort, putting Jameel out there on Nash made him work a lot harder.”

But even more than defense, the Cyclones needed Dustin Hogue. The senior scored the team’s final seven points and finished with 17, the team high, as well as pulling down eight rebounds. 

And, of course, when they needed him most, he delivered with a block that ISU fans and OSU fans won’t forget for a while.

While Hogue flourished against the Cowboys, team leaders Georges Niang and Bryce Dejean-Jones struggled. The Cyclones started the night 0-for-8 from the three-point line before Matt Thomas came off the bench to drain back-to-back threes. Niang and Dejean-Jones, however, shot 5-for-19 from the floor, all but disappearing at times in the last few games and seeing the bench longer than some bench players.

Is that a sign of concern? Over an extended period of time, maybe. But Hoiberg believes in the players he has, and if the win over Oklahoma State says anything about the Cyclones, it’s that they may not need Niang or Dejean-Jones to win.

“This team has a lot of guys that can go out and play and make shots and get hot. So, it’s going to be different guys on different nights,” Hoiberg said. “It’s a great luxury to have a guy like Matt Thomas who can step up and carry the team for a while.”

The Cyclones will hit the road against the No. 14 West Virginia Mountaineers (14-1, 2-0 Big 12) for a 7 p.m. tip-off Jan. 10.