Iowa fought hard all game, but could not overcome Iowa State at Hilton Coliseum.
The Cyclones have been on a tear all season, dominating opponents on the offensive end of the court.
Through the first nine games of the season, the Cyclones were averaging a massive 94.6 points per game (No. 8 overall) and were beating every team by nearly 30 points per game.
The Hawkeyes came out strong, putting the clamps on the Iowa State offense in the first half.
Iowa held Iowa State to 33.3 percent shooting from the field and 20 percent shooting from beyond the arc, taking a 33-25 advantage into halftime.
T.J. Otzelberger must've had one heck of a halftime speech, because the Cyclones came out hot to start the second half and took the lead with 17 minutes left in the game.
Joshua Jefferson dominated down low all game, and the Cyclones held on to win 66-62 in a hard-fought contest.
Tavion Banks led the way for the Hawkeyes with 14 points, while Bennett Stirtz and Cam Manyawu each added 10 points in the loss.
Iowa got contributions from all over the court, but it wasn't enough to upset the Cyclones.
Iowa held Iowa State to 42.3 percent shooting from the field and 33.3 percent shooting from three-point range, and their 66 points are well below their season average.
The Hawkeyes' 15 turnovers and 19 fouls cost them the game, and their low free-throw attempts are a massive issue.
This is also the second time Stirtz has disappeared in a big game, and that trend is a growing problem for Iowa's offense
When Stirtz doesn't score, the Hawkeyes don't win
Teams have figured out that when they put the clamps on Stirtz, Iowa does not have enough offense to win games.
Iowa has relied on its defense to keep it in games, but in its two biggest games to date against Michigan State and Iowa State, Stirtz has been held in check.
Against Michigan State, Stirtz had 14 points, but made only four of 10 shots, including three of eight from downtown.
Against Iowa State, Stirtz was held to 10 points on three of 11 shooting in another lackluster performance for the potential future lottery pick.
Iowa's defense has kept them in every game this season, but they have not found a consistent second scorer when Stirtz is held in check.
Stirtz means so much to the offense, and when he doesn't score or facilitate at a high level, Iowa struggles to score.