Longhorns drop second straight game with loss to Iowa State

AMES, Iowa (AP) -- Georges Niang and Monte Morris each scored 24 points as No. 14 Iowa State beat 24th-ranked Texas 85-75 on Saturday night in Jameel McKay's return from a two-game suspension.

Matt Thomas added 13 for the Cyclones (18-7, 7-5 Big 12), who allowed just one point in the final 2:29 to hold off the Longhorns.

Morris' step-back jumper with 1:17 left made it 81-74, and Niang's layup 35 seconds later sealed the win for Iowa State.

Javan Felix had 13 of his 18 points in the second half to lead Texas (16-9, 7-5), which has dropped two straight.

McKay, who had been suspended for violating team rules, finished with eight points, seven rebounds and four blocks.

A 6-2 stretch through the Big 12 -- with losses at No. 6 Kansas and No. 3 Oklahoma -- put Texas in position to contend for the Big 12 crown.

Iowa State, on the other hand, had dropped three of its previous four to effectively fall out of the race.

But the Longhorns are now down two games with six to play -- and Tuesday's home game against West Virginia looms as a must-win for their conference title hopes.

Iowa State appeared to be on the verge of pulling away at multiple points early in the second half, most notably when McKay's alley-oop dunk made it 52-44. But two crucial 3s by Tevin Mack kept the Longhorns close, and Prince Ibeh's dunk tied it 56-all just moments before Ibeh picked up his fourth foul.

McKay's second alley-oop of the night gave the Cyclones a 73-67 lead with just over 5 minutes left.

Mack had 18 points off the bench for Texas, and Ibeh added 10 points with seven rebounds.

TIP-INS

Texas: The Longhorns fell behind by as many as nine early in the first half, but a 12-0 run pulled them to 36-34 by halftime. ... Texas was 11 of 13 from the free throw line.

Iowa State: Morris matched his career high for points. ... The Cyclones started Deonte Burton over McKay, who had opened the first 22 games at center. Burton scored Iowa State's first six points and finished with 10. ... McKay was the only bench player to score for Iowa State.

UP NEXT

Texas hosts No. 10 West Virginia on Tuesday.

Iowa State plays at No. 21 Baylor on Tuesday.