No. 17 Iowa State holds off Oklahoma State 63-61

AMES, Iowa (AP) On a team filled with stars, unheralded Dustin Hogue bailed out Iowa State with the block of his life.

Hogue slammed Tavarius Shine's 3-point try into the stands with under a second left to help the 17th-ranked Cyclones hold off Oklahoma State 63-61 on Tuesday in their Big 12 opener.

Hogue had all 17 of his points in the second half for the Cyclones (11-2, 1-0 Big 12), who shook off a cold start to beat the Cowboys for the third straight time - all by four points or less.

''I just tried to make a play on the ball,'' Hogue said.

What a play it was.

Phil Forte's layup pulled Oklahoma State within 63-61 with 55 seconds to go. But Hogue stuffed Shine, and Georges Niang blocked Forte's desperation 3 at the buzzer.

Forte had 21 points and Le'Bryan Nash scored 19 for Oklahoma State (11-3, 1-1), which lost for just the second time in six games.

Oklahoma State went to Nash and Forte once it fell behind by double digits. They helped the Cowboys rally to take the lead at 43-42.

But despite hitting six of its first nine 3s in the second half, Oklahoma State fell two blocked 3s short of the upset.

''I hope our team takes away that we played against a very good team. A great team, one of the best offensive teams in the country, in one of the toughest places to play in the country, and we played them to the end,'' Oklahoma State coach Travis Ford said.

But Hogue hit a 3 and a layup to go up 59-55 with 2:16 left and stars Bryce Dejean-Jones and Niang on the bench for the Cyclones.

Niang and Matt Thomas each had 10 points for Iowa State.

''He made three huge plays, and then the block. I think that play speaks for itself,'' Iowa State coach Fred Hoiberg said about Hogue.

Iowa State was doomed by cold shooting in a 64-60 loss to South Carolina in Brooklyn last weekend.

The Cyclones remained stuck in a massive slump in the first half.

Iowa State was an astounding 1 of 26 from 3-point range from the start of the Gamecocks game until Thomas buried a 3 with 2:25 left in the first half. Monte Morris followed with a layup, and Thomas buried a step-back corner 3 to give the Cyclones a 26-19 lead.

Niang then blew a chance to seal the game at the line with 22 seconds left.

But Hogue saved the Cyclones with a brilliant end to one of the best halves of his career.

TIP-INS

Iowa State: The Cyclones beat Oklahoma State twice last season - and Naz Long played a crucial role in both wins. Long hit a 3 to force triple overtime in a 98-97 win in Stillwater, then took Iowa State to OT with a long 3 as the Cyclones prevailed 85-81. Long had seven points Tuesday.

Oklahoma State: The Cowboys and Cyclones lost to the same two teams this season; South Carolina and Maryland. Iowa State dropped both on neutral floors, while Oklahoma State fell to Maryland at home and to the Gamecocks by 25 on the road.

QUOTE OF THE NIGHT

''We shot 30 shots, and he made 29 of them - and he was (mad). And I said `Matt, you just made 29 out of 30 shots. Now go home.' He kind of looked at me funny, but I said `Get out of here, and leave feeling somewhat good about your shot,''' Hoiberg said about a recent post-practice shooting session he had with Thomas, who had been struggling before Tuesday's game.

UP NEXT

Iowa State plays at No. 14 West Virginia on Saturday.

Oklahoma State hosts 10th-ranked Texas on Saturday.