Iowa State looks to steal road win at Kansas State with outside shooting

AMES - Things are getting crowded.

There have been plenty of highs and lows for the Iowa State men's basketball team, but with three weeks left in the season, the Cyclones find themselves in the thick of a competitive league.

Kansas looks like it is well on its way to a 13th straight Big 12 regular season title, but after that things are up in the air.

Iowa State is half a game out of third place in the league standings, and is likely to participate in pivotal games every night from here on out.

'You just have to take care of business in the games that are home games, games you think you're supposed to win and you have to go man up and get one on the road here that people may count you out on,” said Iowa State Coach Steve Prohm.

That opportunity to steal one on the road is here. Iowa State (15-9, 7-5) is on its second tour around the league, this time going to Kansas State on Wednesday (6 p.m. ESPN2). Much like the Cyclones, the Wildcats (16-9, 5-7) are trying to keep their heads above water in the league standings.

Kansas State has lost five of its last six games dating back to last month in Ames - the Cyclones notched a five-point win after leading by as many as 20 in the second half. The Wildcats have lost their last two home games by a combined nine points to TCU and Kansas - one of which was in overtime.

'It's going to be tough going down there,” said point guard Monte Morris. 'They're a good team. But if we go out and execute and know their personnel really good I feel like we'll be in a good position.

'We scored the ball good against them last time and guys like me and Deonte (Burton), we struggled. I think I was like 4-for-12 against them, shots I usually make. If we can string some stops together we should be fine.”

Morris actually went 4-for-10 and had 12 points with one of his more pedestrian stat lines - by his high standards - with four assists and two turnovers. What helped push Iowa State to a win that night is what is working well right now - shots are falling.

In a win at Kansas and at home against Oklahoma, the Cyclones have made a combined 30 3-pointers with senior guards Matt Thomas and Naz Mitrou-Long leading the charge.

In the last six games, Thomas (25) and Mitrou-Long (18) have combined to make 43 3s at a 50-percent rate. Kansas State ranks No. 330 according to KenPom.com in 3-point percentage defense and was forced to go small in the last meeting to counter Iowa State's outside shot.

Iowa State is 3-3 on the road in Big 12 play and with a win Wednesday could move into a tie for third in the Big 12 standings with No. 12 West Virginia.

'I'd definitely say behind us and Kansas, (Kansas State is) the third-best home court advantage,” Mitrou-Long said. 'Their student section shows out and not only that, they have a good surrounding sound as far as the building and the way it's set up.

'It's dark in there, it's gloomy and it's a place that's tough to get a win in. They have a great support system behind them.”

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