Iowa State refused to be caught off guard.

ISU coach Fred Hoiberg warned his team about the perils of looking past the University of Missouri Kansas-City game on Dec. 9 to a matchup with Iowa on Dec. 12.

It was advice his players heeded.

The Cyclones trounced the Kangaroos of Kansas City, who hopped hopefully into Hilton Coliseum trying to recreate the success they had to open the season when they took down in-state rival Missouri.

The ‘Roos hopped out having suffered their worst defeat of the season, 73 to 56 at the hands of the Cyclones.

Iowa State, which shot a white hot 64 percent from the field for 60 consecutive minutes spanning all the way back to the second half versus Lamar on Dec. 2, picked up where they left off to open against UMKC.

The Cyclones sprinted out to a 24-9 lead less than eight minutes into the first half as senior guard Bryce Dejean-Jones continued to impress offensively with 14 first-half points.

Iowa State carried a 41-27 lead into the locker room at halftime, shooting better than 57 percent as a team and holding the ‘Roos’ leading scorer, Martez Harrison, to a mere two first half points.

The Cyclones started more slowly in half number two, scoring only seven points in the first seven plus minutes.

They got back on track quickly, however, slamming home a number of dunks, which shook the rust off their shooting as well as the neglected nylon of the net.

It was not a banner day for leading ISU scorer, junior Georges Niang. Niang had only nine points but picked up the slack in other ways with seven rebounds and a team-high seven assists.

The ISU offense was supplemented in the meantime by 22 points from Dejean-Jones.

Iowa State held on to win 73 to 56. The Cyclones take the court next in Iowa City for a showdown with the Hawkeyes at 7 p.m. on Dec. 12.