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AMES, Iowa -- Iowa States offense has been very solid for stretches this season, and its defense has improved since last season.The problem is that the Cyclones cant get both clicking at the same time and that inconsistency helped knock them out of the Top 25.Iowa State (6-3) was left out of Mondays rankings, snapping a run of 61 straight weeks in the poll, after dropping three of its last four. The Cyclones are coming off one of their ugliest games in years, falling to Iowa 78-64 on the road last week.Iowa State will face instate rival Drake (1-8) on Saturday as part of a doubleheader in Des Moines.This team will be fine. I mean, I know were living off the Iowa game, Prohm said. This team has to play a certain way all the time, and we didnt do that in stretches in the Iowa game.Prohms way includes strong ball movement.For a team with a backcourt led by preseason All-American point guard Monte Morris, the Cyclones have too often failed to make the extra pass that leads to a better shot.A poor assist-to-basket ratio has symbolized Iowa States lack of ball movement in its last two losses. The Cyclones had just five assists in an overtime loss to No. 25 Cincinnati on Dec. 1 and just nine against the Hawkeyes, who entered play with a losing record.Prohm said the key to fixing Iowa States offense is for it to pick up the pace and cut down on what he called freelancing.First and foremost, weve got to start playing in transition. Weve got to get some easy baskets by playing in transition and pushing the tempo, Prohm said. When we run our offense and we execute, we get good shots.The Cyclones have also struggled because Naz Mitrou-Long just isnt shooting very well.Mitrou-Long, who missed most of last season because of lingering issues with his surgically-repaired hips, is shooting just 39 percent from the floor and just 26.7 percent on 3s -- two years after ranking second in the Big 12 in 3s per game. Morris said hes confident that Mitrou-Long will eventually shoot his way out of his recent funk.Its not about how you start. Its how you finish, Mitrou-Long said. Ive put in too much work. These guys put in too much work. Weve beaten ourselves. Me and Monte talk about it every day. If it has to be us against the world, I like our chances.For a program whose expectations have soared in recent seasons, three losses out of four can feel like an epidemic.But things arent as bad as they might seem for the Cyclones.Iowa State rallied from 20 down and was within a Monte Morris 3 at the buzzer from beating No. 8 Gonzaga on Nov. 27. If Mitrou-Longs 3 at the regulation buzzer gone down against Cincinnati, the Cyclones would have won that game as well.Iowa States defense has also been better than its offense, and teams that defend well typically have a chance on the road once league play comes around.But for the Cyclones to get back on track, theyll need the loss at Iowa to be their tipping point.Its a bright future and a bright road down the line. Its tough right now and it might be hard to see for (the media). But there is definitely going to be a change, and its definitely going to get back to normal around here, Morris said.---More college basketball at www.collegebasketball.ap.orgDonte Jackson Jersey . Capitals head coach Adam Oates said Ovechkin was injured in the first period against the Vancouver Canucks on Monday and clarified it was not a head injury. Christian McCaffrey Panthers Jersey .ca NBA Power Rankings, ahead of the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs. http://www.shoppanthersonline.us/panthers-curtis-samuel-blue-jersey/ . Howard Ganz, an MLB lawyer, said in a letter to U.S. District Judge Edgardo Ramos that Rodriguezs claims do not come "remotely close" to what is needed to overturn an arbitration decision in federal court. Brian Burns Youth Jersey . -- Timbers coach Caleb Porter didnt stray from his business-like approach to the season even after Portland downed the two-time defending league champion Los Angeles Galaxy to gain crucial playoff position. Custom Carolina Panthers Jerseys . -- Patrick Reed got an early start in golf.NEW YORK -- Outfielder Hyun Soo Kim has been put on the 15-day disabled list by the Orioles because of a strained right hamstring, and Baltimore selected the contract of outfielder Julio Borbon from Double-A Bowie.Kim, hitting .329 with 11 RBIs in his rookie season, has not played since before the All-Star break. The move was backdated to July 11.Its just inching little by little. He still feels it, Orioles manager Buck Showalter said Tuesday.The 30-year-old Borbon batted .289 with five homers and 20 RBIs for the Baysox.To open a spot on the 40-man roster, the Orioles designated outfielder Henry Urrutia for assignment.First baseman Chris Davis was not in the starting lineup for the second straight game because of an illness that caused him to be hospitalized Sunday night.Hes still pretty weak, Showalter said.Catcher Matt Wieters was out after being hit by a pitch on his right ffoot in the first inning Monday.dddddddddddd X-rays were negative.Right-hander Darren ODay, on the disabled list since June 3 because of a strained right hamstring, threw a simulated game Tuesday and likely will pitch Friday for Bowie. He threw 15 pitches, stopped, then threw 10 more.If that goes well, were talking about a Sunday or Monday activation, Showalter said.Left-hander T.J. McFarland, on the DL since June 29 because of left knee inflammation, has been throwing but not yet off a mound.Showalter said 21-year-old pitching prospect Hunter Harvey, who left Saturdays outing for Class A Aberdeen because of right forearm soreness, was to be examined by Dr. James Andrews this week. The right-hander was the 22nd overall pick in the 2013 amateur draft. ' ' '