KU twins loom large for ISU

One is a Wooden Award finalist who leads the Big 12 Conference in shooting percentage.

The other also is a double-figure scorer who ranks first in the league in rebounding. Together, Marcus and Markieff Morris are the Kansas players Iowa State must limit if it has any shot at a streak-busting win this afternoon at Allen Fieldhouse.

How exactly?

“I think that's the question every team in the Big 12 is trying to figure out,” Cyclone guard Scott Christopherson said. “They are going to make shot and plays. You have to try and not give them anything easy.”

Easier said than done, as ISU (14-10, 1-8) knows.

The twin brothers combined for 50 points and 24 rebounds in an 84-79 KU victory at Hilton Coliseum. The Cyclones have lost six of seven games since.

Marcus Morris finished with a career-high 33 points in KU's 11th straight win in the series dating to the 2004-05 season.

“We can't let the twins go off like they did last time,” forward Jamie Vanderbeken said. “We're thin up front. Everyone knows it. They knew it and they exploited it.”

Last month, ISU still had freshman Calvin Godfrey's big body available. Now he's serving the last of his three-game suspension for breaking unspecified team rules and won't even be in the building. That's going to make it even more difficult for the visitors.

“Marcus is a little better offensively,” Vanderbeken said. “Markieff is better on defense. But both of them do the same thing and do it well.”

ISU has not been good in tight games, losing six when ahead or tied in the final minute. Kansas, meanwhile, is fresh off Monday night's 103-86 pasting of No. 20 Missouri.

“We have to be the first to be aggressive,” said point guard Diante Garrett. “If we come out and show that we can hang with them and punch them in the mouth ... we can stay in the game as long as we want to.”

Garrett said he loves the sellout crowds and atmosphere at Allen Fieldhouse, although teams he's taken there have lost three games by an average of 18.3 points.

“I love it,” Garrett said.