Iowa State basketball asserts itself as contender even in loss | Hines

KANSAS CITY – There were no tears. Faces were not buried in jerseys, hiding the pain. There was no consoling or commiserating. Even with angst bubbling under their skin and disappointment flooding their veins, Iowa State remained stoic. Solid. Steadfast. For the Cyclones knew the truth. This was a loss, yes, one with weight enough to crush your soul – basketball or eternal – but Iowa State saw its 82-80 loss on a buzzer-beater to second-ranked Arizona in the Big 12 Tournament semifinals for what it was. An epic featuring two teams worthy of playing in April. “We really respect Arizona and their program,” Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger said after the March 13 los, “but just like they're a...