Few things are guaranteed in Big 12 play this season, but close games are about as constant as anything. So it was no surprise when first-place Kansas State battled with No. 9 Iowa State for 40 minutes in a back-and-forth game.

However, when the ball was tipped, Kansas State (11-8, 4-2 Big 12) had its five most important players on the court, all of whom would combine for 91.5 percent of the Wildcats’ points on the night. For Iowa State (14-3, 4-1 Big 12), its most potent weapons didn’t even make an appearance until about five minutes into the game.

Cue the entrance music for Jameel McKay and Abdel Nader.

In just 49 combined minutes of game action, the duo scored 26 points, pulled down 13 rebounds and blocked four shots at critical points in the game, none more important than Nader’s hustle play in transition to block a KSU layup with the game tied. 

“That was the play of the game,” said ISU coach Fred Hoiberg. “Not only did he block it, he kept it in bounds and that allowed us to go down and get an offensive possession.”

The offensive possession led to points, and McKay and Nader combined for three more rebounds in the final minutes to seal the game. That’s all without mentioning the defensive effort inside that forced Kansas State into outside shots.

Unfortunately for Iowa State, those shots fell early and often for the Wildcats, leading KSU guard Nino Williams to a career-high 22 points with fellow guard Marcus Foster chipping in 16 of his own. But when the KSU shooters started cooling off, McKay and Nader turned up the heat.

“With four minutes left and it’s a tie game, it’s do-or-die,” McKay said. “We didn’t want to drop one after a big win last week over Kansas. We just knew it was gut-check time and we had to get stops.”

But as the Cyclones have shown time and time again, the distribution of statistics is nearly even across the board as a team, showing that Iowa State can’t be beat by shutting down one or two players. Five Cyclones ended in double figures and five pulled down at least five rebounds. With 15 assists on 27 baskets, unselfish play continues to be the top priority under coach Hoiberg.

It’s what has led the Cyclones to three-straight NCAA tournaments and has been key in the team’s 4-1 start in conference play — the best conference start since 2000.

But against a Kansas State team that could prove to be a tough test for many in the Big 12, it was the big men off the bench that proved to be the difference. But after a night of guarding KSU big-man Thomas Gipson, one of the biggest centers in the conference, McKay, and the Cyclones for that matter, may just be happy the game is over with.

“Have you ever wrestled a grizzly bear? That’s what he’s like,” said Georges Niang of Gipson. “Running into those forearms, I’m sure Jameel’s chest will be hurting him tomorrow.”

With Big 12 play heating up, McKay and the Cyclones will get a bit of a break after back-to-back dogfights with the Kansas schools. Iowa State is off until Jan. 24, when they travel to Lubbock, Texas to take on a struggling Texas Tech team that is winless in the Big 12.

But just as the Cyclones treated the Kansas State game after a potential hangover from the circus that was ESPN’s College GameDay against Kansas three days prior, Iowa State isn’t looking past anyone as they hope to maintain their lead in the conference standings.

“With this schedule the way it is, the Big 12 … nine teams have been ranked in the top 25, so we’ve got to focus on the old cliché ‘one game at a time,'” Hoiberg said. “Our focus tomorrow, the guys will get a good day off from practice, but they’ll get treatment and I’m sure a lot of them will come in to get shots and then we’ll get back to work on Thursday.”

But for now, McKay, Nader and the Cyclones can celebrate a Big 12 win that may serve as a good indicator of what the team can accomplish heading into the heart of the conference schedule.