Iowa State 70, Oklahoma State 65

STILLWATER, Okla. — Georges Niang scuffled around for much of the game Wednesday night. However, in crunch time, the Iowa State forward found his form, sinking two big buckets in the closing minutes to lift the 14th-ranked Cyclones to a 70-65 win over 22nd-ranked Oklahoma State.

Iowa State (19-6, 9-4 Big 12) ended a four-game road losing streak in conference play. The league start is the Cyclones’ best since 2000-01, when Iowa State won the Big 12 championship.

Niang, Iowa State’s leading scorer, didn’t score a point in the first half and found himself in foul trouble in the second half. He had five points on 2-of-7 shooting from the floor as the game wound down with the Cowboys ahead 65-61.

Niang’s two buckets, coupled with forward Dustin Hogue’s go-ahead 3-pointer, sent the Cyclones to the win.

Cyclones forward Jameel McKay scored 17 points, grabbed 14 rebounds and blocked four shots.

Oklahoma State (17-9, 7-7) lost its second straight. Forward Le’Bryan Nash and guard Phil Forte led the Cowboys with 13 points each, while guards Anthony Hickey Jr. and Jeff Newberry each added 12.

With Nash and Forte slow to start, Newberry gave the Cowboys a lift. A defensive stopper who averages 6.4 points a game, the junior scored 10 first-half points on 4-of-4 shooting from the floor, sinking two 3-pointers.

Hickey provided more offense, scoring 10 first-half points on 4-of-5 shooting and contributing two threes — part of Oklahoma State’s six makes from beyond the arc in the first 20 minutes.

Forte, who finally heated up, added two treys and eight points before the break.

Iowa State led much of the first half and was up 20-14 and 25-18. Hogue was hot early and had a team-high nine points at halftime. McKay added eight first-half points.

The Cyclones are 7-0 at home in Big 12 play, but they were 1-4 away from Hilton Coliseum before Wednesday.

The Cowboys remain home to face No. 23 West Virginia on Saturday. Iowa State heads to Texas for a Saturday game.

NOTES: The teams make a habit of playing tense, tight games, with seven of the previous eight meetings either decided by three or fewer points or in overtime. The Cyclones own a five-game series winning streak, including a triple-overtime game in Stillwater and an overtime affair in Ames last year, and a two-point verdict in Ames earlier this season. … Iowa State’s run of success under Fred Hoiberg has the Cyclones in the AP Top 25 for the 33rd consecutive week — a program record. … Oklahoma State F Le’Bryan Nash was selected a semifinalist for the Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award on Wednesday. Nash is among 15 players on the list and one of two from the Big 12, along with Texas’ Jonathan Holmes.