AMES, Iowa -Eastern had both the player and the shot it wanted to tie the game against a Big 12 opponent in its own non-conference tournament. But it didn’t fall.

With 19.7 seconds left, Eastern inbounded the ball and junior forward Bobby Catchings’ turnaround jumper from the foul line with six seconds on the clock barely grazed the front rim to allow Iowa State to escape with a 56-54 win in both teams’ final game of the Cyclone Classic

“We had it set up perfect,” Catchings said. “I just didn’t come through.”

ISU, with four fouls to give in the half, did not foul during the entire stretch because of a miscommunication between Cyclones new head coach Greg McDermott and his players.

“Obviously, with four fouls to give we should be able to make it so they don’t even get an attempt at the basket,” McDermott said. “That didn’t come off quite the way we planned.”

The Cyclones then missed another opportunity to foul after junior forward Rahshon Clark missed the back half of a one-and-one free-throw attempt and Panthers guard Mike Robinson was able to take a desperation half-court heave.

“I told the team that if they miss the free throw that we weren’t even going to get a chance to get it across (half-court),” Eastern head coach Mike Miller said.

Robinson’s half-court heave hit the top of the backboard and went over the shot clock.

“We didn’t do what we were told and we almost lost the game with that,” Clark said.

Catchings ended the game with a game-high 15 points on six of 12 shooting from the field and was named to the All-Tournament team.

Eastern had two layups to tie the game late in the second half but the Panthers missed both of them and the Cyclones went on a 5-0 run after that sequence.

“We missed two straight and they were over people but didn’t finish them,” Miller said. “We had a chance right there and when you can tie the game it really starts anew.”

Eastern (0-3) shot 50 percent from both the field and beyond the arc in the second half to nearly give McDermott his first loss with the Cyclones.

“We’ve got to find ways to improve and find out how to become a better basketball team,” Miller said.

The Cyclones (3-0), who swept its season-opening tournament, were led by junior guard Taylor’s 14 points. The junior college transfer from Milwaukee was named the tournament’s most valuable player.

“It’s a full head of steam every time he gets it,” said McDermott about his point guard. “The guy can make plays.”

Eastern head coach Mike Miller is now 2-11 in November and December as the Panthers head coach but the Eastern is encouraged by the energy level shown throughout its final game in the event.

“I think we have the talent to go out there and play with the best of them,” Catchings said. “If we play hard and with energy for 40 minutes, we can beat anyone.”

One major key for the Panthers was the play of freshman center Ousmane Cisse. The 6-foot-8 post player from the Ivory Coast had his best game of the weekend posting a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Eastern out-rebounded the Cyclones 34-32 and 11-8 on the offensive end.

“I think after the first two games, we came in with more confidence and I was more aggressive on both ends,” Cisse said. “It’s about positioning and we did a good job against a tall, athletic team.”

Eastern returns to action for its home opener at Lantz Arena against Indiana-South Bend on Wednesday at 7:35 p.m.