Cyclones put negative streaks behind them

AMES - The slate has now been wiped completely clean for Coach Paul Rhoads.

Iowa State 24, Baylor 10.

With that victory last night before 42,253 at Jack Trice Stadium, the Cyclones' 11-game Big 12 Conference losing streak is history and its postseason hopes alive and well.

“That feels good,” said senior linebacker Jesse Smith. “It's been a while.”

Rhoads inherited a program littered with negative streaks.

ISU (4-3, 1-2 Big 12) came into the season with a 10-game losing streak. A victory over North Dakota State ended that. Winning at Kent State finished ISU's 17-game road losing streak.

And after a pair of gut-wrenching losses to start league play, last night's celebration was particularly sweet. Players have not sulked in practice following back-to-back losses to Kansas State and Kansas when it would be very easy to do so.

“Hats off to the young men we have back there in the locker room,” Rhoads said.

Quarterback Austen Arnaud was 18 of 28 passing for 166 yards and a touchdown before a bruised throwing hand forced him to the sideline early in the third quarter.

Red-shirt freshman Jerome Tiller filled in well, scoring his first career touchdown on a 20-yard run. He played all but one series in the second half and finished with 132 total yards, 74 on the ground.

“I stepped up when the coaches asked me. I used my athletic ability and did what I could do to help the team win,” said Tiller, who saw his first Big 12 action.

Rhoads said he expected Arnaud to play next week when ISU visits

Nebraska for an 11:30 a.m. game.

Tailback Alexander Robinson rushed for 83 yards before he left the game midway through the third quarter with what looked to be a re-aggravation of his injured groin.

“Maybe more than that,” Rhoads said. “We'll just have to see.”

The coach said he had not talked with team trainers, but did not seem optimistic about his star runner's health. Robinson came in as the Big 12's second-leading rusher.

Good thing the Cyclones had plenty of offensive support.

Receiver Marquis Hamilton had a career-high nine catches for 97 yards.

Freshman Josh Lenz made a splash with seven receptions for 43 yards. He is ISU's regular punt returner, but came in with just two career catches.

“I saw a number of tough receivers,” Rhoads said. “I saw guys catch balls that were high and guys catch balls when they knew they were going to get hit.”

Baylor (3-3, 0-2) was able to move the ball, but ISU's defense stiffened when it mattered and picked off quarterback Blake Szymanski three times.

Linebacker Fred Garrin had two interceptions and finally the Cyclones were able to get some heat on an opposing quarterback. Szymanski was 23 of 38 passing for 223 yards before giving way late to freshman Nick Florence.

Field position was in ISU's favor most of the night.

“We kept them pinned down and made them work,” Rhoads said. “Sooner or later the offense usually makes a mistake of some kind. Turnovers were big.”

The Bears have now lost 13 straight road contests and 52 of 54 road games as members of the Big 12.

Iowa State took control in the second quarter, scoring two touchdowns in a span of 4 1/2 minutes.

-By Eric Petersen