The Lowdown

Slow starts have been a concern for Iowa State all season, but facing a 19-point deficit in the first half at Texas Tech, the Cyclones found out how brutal they can be. After clawing back in the final minutes, the Red Raiders (11-9, 1-6 Big 12) were able to pull away from the Cyclones (14-4, 4-2 Big 12) to complete the upset, 78-73.

Toddrick Gotcher came up big for Texas Tech early, hitting 5-of-6 3-pointers to start the game, despite going 5-for-31 from the 3-point line in his previous 10 games. The Red Raiders tied a season-high with 11 3-pointers as Iowa State hit only 6-of-32 from behind the arc.

The Cyclones trailed by double digits for most of the game, but Matt Thomas helped cushion an embarrassing start to the first half by hitting back-to-back 3s to end the half and cut the lead to 36-25. But the second half didn’t offer much relief as Texas Tech jumped back to a 14-point lead midway through the half.

With five minutes to play, Naz Long fouled out of the game, putting the pressure on Matt Thomas and others without one of the team’s best shooting guards.

Down 79-69 with two minutes to go, the Cyclones went on a 9-2 run over the next 1:16 to cut the lead to three. However, the Cyclones couldn’t convert on an open 3-pointer by Monté Morris to tie the game, giving the Red Raiders the chance to put the game away at the free-throw line.

Turning Point

With 23 seconds to go and trailing by three points, Jameel McKay drew an offensive foul to give the Cyclones the ball and a chance to tie. Monté Morris’ open 3-point jumper came up just short and Texas Tech made a game-sealing rebound with four seconds to go.

X-Factor

Monté Morris — After going into halftime with zero points, zero rebounds and zero assists, Morris recorded a career-high 20 points and tallied four rebounds and three assists to help lead his team to a near-comeback.

By the Numbers

0 — Blocks for Jameel McKay after 7-straight games of blocking at least one shot

1.5 — Monté Morris’ assist-to-turnover ratio (leads nation with 5.6 this season)

4 — Losses away from Hilton (10-0 at home)

11 — 3-pointers made by Tech, matching a season-high

18.8 — 3-point percentage by Iowa State

82.7 — TTU free-throw percentage (23-for-28) after averaging 64 percent all season