It was very frustrating.

Hamilton, a contender for Big 12 player of the year, broke out of a two-game slump with 20 points and No. 5 Texas rebounded from its first loss in a month with a 76-53 rout of Iowa State on Tuesday night.

Tristan Thompson added 17 points and 14 rebounds for the Longhorns (24-4, 12-1 Big 12). Hamilton and Thompson keyed a big Texas run at the start of the second half that put the game away.

Those two both struggled when Texas had its 11-game winning streak snapped in a loss at Nebraska last weekend. Hamilton was 3-of-16 from the field in that game and Thompson had just three rebounds. Hamilton had also struggled with his touch in a win last week over Oklahoma State.

“I spent some extra time in the gym,” after the loss, Hamilton said. “I wanted to get my shot back. … Tonight I took good shots.”

It didn’t happen right away. He missed his first three attempts against the Cyclones. As a team, Texas seemed like it was still a bit hung over from the loss. Iowa State grabbed an early lead and Thompson had a tip-in into in the wrong basket that drew a loud grown from the home crowd.

Hamilton then made four of his next five shots and scored eight points in a 15-6 Texas run. Gary Johnson made his first three-pointer of the season — and second of his career — and Hamilton converted a four-point play that put Texas up 33-23. Texas led 35-26 at halftime.

Iowa State coach Fred Hoiberg implored his team in the locker room to push back and keep it close.

But the Longhorns effectively put the game away in the opening minutes of the second.