Iowa State played two full months of basketball last season before suffering its first loss, but the agony of defeat arrived far more quickly this time around.

It was Maryland that pounced on Iowa State in Kansas City, Mo., on Nov. 25, handing the Cyclones their first setback only four games into the season.

Junior Georges Niang explained why the first cut is always the deepest, no matter when it is made or by whom.

“The [first loss] definitely stings the most, that is for sure,” Niang said. “Especially when it is a situation like this where you do not even have a Friday game where you can make it up. We just had to sit out here and beat each other up for a whole week.”

The time the Cyclones spent stewing in their disappointment also provided opportunities for reflection, which bodes well for the ISU men’s basketball team (3-1, 0-0 Big 12) as it heads back to the court against Lamar (2-4, 0-0 Southland).

“We were too complacent and comfortable, and I think guys really forgot how much hard work it was to be how good we were last year,” Niang said. “There [are] all these expectations this year. It is going to be even harder.”

Niang and his teammates were taught that valuable lesson by a Maryland team that held the Cyclones to 29.7 percent from the field, their second-worst shooting performance since ISU coach Fred Hoiberg assumed control of the program more than four years ago.

Iowa State also failed to reach double-digit assist numbers, recording only eight, far below the norm for a team that led the country in that category last season at more than 18 per outing.

Hoiberg said that the focus against Lamar, a team Iowa State has never faced, will be a return to a style that has made the Cyclones successful during recent years.

“We just talked a lot about getting back to who we are as a group, and I really thought we got away from that,” Hoiberg said. “You have to have that trust. All five guys have to be involved in that, and once you do that you have a chance to win.”

The lack of trust was most evident in the offensive approach for the Cyclones, which was more ego-centric on the part of each player than the typical team-centric style that has characterized Iowa State’s offensive identity under Hoiberg.

Starting the second half against Maryland with a scoreless first five minutes only exacerbated the situation.

“I was forcing a couple shots because I just wanted to be able to be that guy to break that seal, to take that lid off the basket, and we turned into a lot of one-on-one by doing that,” said junior Naz Long. “Again that is not who we are. We are going to spread the love and get back to Cyclone basketball.”

Niang said Iowa State’s problems were born more of unease and a lack of familiarity than of selfishness as a discombobulated Cyclone lineup continues to try and incorporate transfer players and returnees from last year’s team into a cohesive unit.

“I am just starting to learn how to play with these guys, so I think it is definitely getting to know each other,” Niang said.

Lamar will provide an opportunity the ISU players have been itching for: to get back to a familiar setting and put the Maryland game behind them for good.

“It was just one of those nights,” Long said. “I would highly doubt that happening again to us.”

If history is any indication then Iowa State is a good bet to bounce back.

The Cyclones have won 22 consecutive match-ups against non-conference foes inside Hilton and are 7-0 against teams out of the Southland Conference, from which Lamar hails.

Iowa State will take its shot at Lamar on Dec. 2. Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m.