KANSAS CITY, Mo. – It was not the worst offensive performance in ISU history, but it was close.

Last season the Cyclones scored and shared the ball more effectively than nearly every team in the country. In its game on Tuesday, No. 13 Iowa State was outdone in both categories by a scrappy and physical Maryland squad.

The ISU basketball team (3-1, 0-0 Big 12) was upset by Maryland (5-0, 0-0 Big 10) by a score of 72-63, producing its second-worst shooting performance in the Hoiberg era at 29.7 percent.

The entire contest was characterized most profoundly by frustration on the part of the Cyclones, which grew more evident as the game wore on and it seemed as though Iowa State was headed for its first loss of the season.

The tensions boiled over in the form of a flagrant foul on a Maryland break away late in the second half, courtesy of senior Bryce Dejean-Jones, as the heavily physical game drew to a close.

“I just think it was the physicality of the game, I do not think anything was really intentional,” said junior Georges Niang. “They played physical and we were not going to back down.”

The under-sized Cyclones fought but were exposed at the rim, allowing Maryland to finish effectively on dribble penetration. The Cyclones also gave up 10 offensive rebounds to the Terrapins after allowing nine to the Crimson Tide the night before.

It was not only the shooting performance that was atypical of Iowa State but the overall offensive attack, which accumulated only eight assists coupled with seven turnovers.

“It was not us,” said ISU coach Fred Hoiberg. “I do not remember the last time we had under double digit assists in a game. We were not running, adversity hit us and we just kind of folded.”

Hoiberg went on to lament the spacing of the offense and commented that the team “was just not playing for each other.”

There were a few bright spots for Iowa State, however, namely the emergence of senior Daniel Edozie for the first time this regular season.

Edozie scored nine points and added five rebounds, providing the only inside presence the Cyclones were able to muster all game.

Dejean-Jones also bounced back offensively, netting 17 points after a disappointing seven-point performance against Alabama.

Still, the efforts of Dejean-Jones and Edozie were not enough as every time the Cyclones made a run in the second half, the Terrapins found a way to counter.

“They were great,” Hoiberg said. “They certainly played like the more poised team, there is not a question about that, and that starts with me.”

It was difficult to find a positive spin for Iowa State after losing the CBE Hall of Fame Classic title to Maryland. All Hoiberg could come up with was that the game served the cliche of a teaching opportunity for himself and his staff. 

Nothing becomes a cliche, however, unless it is rooted in truth. Hoiberg embraced that truth after the game.

“Now you get back and you see what you are made of as a team,” Hoiberg said. “It is how you respond to adversity and…certainly a lot of it hit us tonight.”

Iowa State will get back on the court on Dec. 2 in Ames versus Lamar. Tip is set for 7:00 p.m.