No. 16 Iowa State escapes Oklahoma State in Big 12 opener

AMES, Ia. -- Dustin Hogue to the rescue.

Iowa State's energetic forward not only scored 17 points, but he knocked what could have been the game-winning shot into the third row of the Hilton Coliseum seats Tuesday night to preserve a 63-61 victory against Oklahoma State in the 17th-ranked Cyclones' Big 12 Conference opener. Georges Niang blocked Phil Forte's desperation 22-foot shot at the buzzer.

And, Iowa State finally got its shooting act together before the usual sellout crowd.

After missing 17 of their 18 3-point shots in last Saturday's 64-60 loss against South Carolina, the Cyclones' shooting improved – but it took eight 3-point misses in a row for it to happen.

Iowa State, which plays at West Virginia on Saturday, improved its record to 11-2, while Oklahoma State fell to 11-3, including 1-1 in the Big 12.

Matt Thomas ended Iowa State's drought from the 3-point line, draining one from the corner that resulted in a 21-19 lead, and then a quick layup in transition by Monte Morris made it 23-19 Cyclones.

Before Thomas' 3-pointer, Iowa State missed 25 of its previous 26 from that distance, including its first eight Tuesday. There was a distinct carryover affect from last Saturday's loss against South Carolina.

Thomas came through again a minute later with another long one, giving the Cyclones a 26-19 lead.

Iowa State's 3-point string extended to four, resulting in a 34-23 lead early in the second half, but Oklahoma State steadily got back in the game, Phil Forte's third 3-pointer giving the Cowboys a 43-42 lead with 11:45 to play.

Monte Morris' twist shot under the basket returned the lead to the Cyclones, but the key aggressive baskets by Dustin Hogue down the stretch were just as important.

Iowa State had a chance to expand on a 63-61 lead with 22.2 second to play, but Georges Niang missed the first of a one-and-one free throw situation. Oklahoma State got the rebound, but Hogue knocked Tavarius Shine's shot from the corner.

Randy Peterson writes for The Des Moines Register, a Gannett company.