LAHAINA, Hawaii – It probably leans a little towards the cliché, but so be it:

Iowa State's 71-66 loss to Arizona in the first round of the Maui Invitational was rich in teaching moments for Steve Prohm's young team.

Quickly send the video to the 3-point transition basket of goalkeeper Nick Weiler-Babb, with 11:02 remaining – the one who gave the Cyclones a 54-44 lead in front of a pro-Iowa State crowd in Little Lahaina, though very noisy. Civic Center. By the time you think you're on the way to the semifinal round of this very talent-rich tournament, you're not.

Iowa State has missed 12 of its last 15 shots, including six to three points. The cyclones were bounced. Arizona has made half of its last 16 shots.

And you wonder why Iowa State lost that 10-point lead?

"They made big shots, we could not stop, and they had some offensive rebounds late in the game that hurt a lot," said Weiler-Babb. "And I think our selection of shots really needs to improve, and these were small pieces like that."

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It may be too much to ask that an Iowa State team of two new starters not be shaken as their opponents turn a 10-point deficit in the second period into a win. Maybe he expects them to play like crazy veterans throughout the 40-minute match.

That's why I said the last 11 minutes of Monday night was a learning experience that could pay off at the NCAA Selection Board bank – if lessons were learned.

"We had to be disciplined in defense and then, if we are fundamentally solid at the attack, we will have a great chance of getting out of here with a win," Prohm said after the fall of the record of his team at 3-1. "Forty-four points in the second half (for Arizona), that's too much, but let's credit Arizona – they've made big games in the far right."

Wildcats have had many games in the second half. Hurricanes have not done so many times.

"As in transition, we took a lot of shots after we got some layups, and we might have gotten a better shot," Weiler-Babb said. "It may have been a good idea, but at that time we needed a good look."

Translated: The Cyclones took ill-advised shots early in timed shooting situations.

"Too many challenges, too many quick shots, then we came back in defense," said Prohm. "We have to be more fundamentally strong offensively.

"You give them freedom … we have to make good decisions with that, but we also need to know the time and score points."

And that's another reason why the Cyclones lost their opening game in this prestigious tournament: terrible three-point shots.

Iowa State not only missed six times in a row after their big lead, but also missed 20 of 24 three-point throws for the game. It's horrible for a team that starts with four perimeter players and a center.

They stopped swinging the ball from one side to the other. They did not make the extra pass. They missed open eyes.

"I bet one-third of them we did not need it," Prohm said about the 24-point three-point. "Too many fast and contested trios. I thought that when we had a good ball movement, we really dug holes and thought we had good things. "

But when they did not do it?

"Too fast shots, then we came back in defense," said the coach. "We have to be more fundamentally strong offensively. We must make good decisions.

"When we are stuck and we play well, I think we have a chance to be a very good team. We simply need to keep our good habits for longer periods. "

And if you do not buy it, then replay the video.

Randy Peterson, Iowa State columnist, has been on the register for five decades. Randy writes opinions and analyzes on football and basketball in the state of Iowa. You can contact Randy at [email protected] or on Twitter at @RandyPete address.