Rob Gray

The Iowa State Cyclones did a lot of the things that led to a 4-0 start in Big 12 men’s basketball play and a top-12 ranking nationally Monday night against West Virginia. They simply didn’t do any of them well enough to win.

Inside or outside. On the move or spotted up. Iowa State women’s basketball all-time leading scorer Ashley Joens was so good, it didn’t matter where her shots came from in an 85-56 win over TCU.

The reeling Iowa State men’s basketball team lost for the fifth time in the past six games, 61-50 at home against last-place Oklahoma.

Morgan Kane’s been asked to play many roles in her Iowa State career. She’s back in the spotlight, coming off a season-high 16 point-performance in the Cyclones’ 73-68 loss Wednesday at Oklahoma State.

The travel-weary and 23rd-ranked Iowa State Cyclones seek to solidify themselves in the top half of the Big 12 men’s basketball conference by winning two straight at home, beginning with Saturday’s 11 a.m. matchup with last-place, but dangerous Oklahoma.

While Iowa State’s offensive staff underwent an overhaul in the offseason, the defensive coaches remained largely the same.

One thing the Iowa State women’s basketball program had never done is avoid getting swept in the regular season by one or more Big 12 foes. Until now. And that’s not a trivial matter as the Cyclones prepare for a tough four-game stretch to close the regular-season slate.

Thirty-four days have passed since Iowa State beat Texas, 78-67, to start 5-0 in Big 12 men’s basketball play for the first time in 23 years. The No. 23 Cyclones have lost six of nine conference games since that triumph, but now come full circle with the eighth-ranked and league-leading Longhorns.

Class 2A boys’ state wrestling finals recap: Union Community’s Jace Hedeman is halfway to history, but after winning his second straight Iowa high school boys’ state wrestling tournament title, he turned the Saturday night spotlight elsewhere: To his teammate and sparring partner, Brayden Bohnsack.

West Delaware senior Logan Peyton carved through the consolation bracket, racking up four consecutive wins to place at state for the third straight season. His father beamed and clapped before sharing a long embrace that embodied their family’s love, faith and grit.

Friday’s Class 3A Iowa high school boys’ state wrestling recap: Iowa City High’s Gabe Arnold and Linn-Mar’s Tate Naaktgeboren set up a highly-anticipated fourth meeting. The Lions moved into second in the team race behind Waverly-Shell Rock.

Friday’s Iowa boys’ state wrestling notebook: Having his mom nearby for support provides South Tama’s Gavin Bridgewater with both comfort and motivation.

Williamsburg senior Gavin Jensen’s last almost-three seasons on the mat have taught him one thing: Humbling setbacks can deepen one’s sense of confidence, not shake it.

Every bout’s a blessing. Each second on the mat’s sublime. That’s because Iowa City High’s Cale Seaton is able to compete in the Class 3A Iowa high school boys’ state wrestling tournament — a proposition that appeared bleak about a month ago.

Mikey and Henry Ryan and Jase and Jackson Jaspers of Mount Vernon all advanced to the Class 2A state wrestling quarterfinals. The Mustangs are in second in the team race after the first day.