Cyclones set to battle BYU, altitude at Provo

 AMES - One climb's started.

Another awaits.

The Iowa State men's basketball team ascended back into the Associated Press top 25 Monday, checking in at No. 21 after Sunday's 77-70 win over then-No. 7 Michigan at Hilton Coliseum.

The Cyclones (3-0) haven't been ranked this highly since the 2000-01 season and will try to keep up with fast-breaking BYU (4-0) beginning at 8:30 p.m. today in Provo, Utah.

“We see the potential we have as a team,” said senior forward Melvin Ejim, who notched 22 points and nine rebounds against the Wolverines after missing the first two games with a left knee injury. “Guys are excited, but we've got to keep our focus up. BYU's a tough team, a good team. They can score the ball. (Sunday's) win doesn't mean much unless we go out and get BYU and solidify ourselves.”

The Cougars scored 112 points in an eye-opening win at Stanford.

They've also poured in 81, 108 and 84 points to average 96.2 points per game.

And they play their home games at an altitude of roughly 4,500 feet - about 3,600 feet higher than ISU's Hilton Coliseum is situated.

“That first few times up and down the floor, it takes its toll on you,” said Cyclone coach Fred Hoiberg, who played at higher elevations in college and the NBA at Boulder and Denver, Colo. “So we've got to be smart with substitutions. Guys that didn't play a lot, or didn't play at all on Sunday are going to have to be ready to step in and give us minutes. The big thing is really getting prepare, really working at getting back in transition. … If we don't get back in transition it's not going to be a very fun game.”

Hoiberg said he planned to take the team on a run among the foothills of the Wasatch mountain range to help with acclimatization.

“Try to burn their lungs a little bit,” Hoiberg said.

BYU star Tyler Haws may or may not make the game-time climb rougher.

Haws averages 29.5 points and 10.5 rebounds, but missed the past two games because of injury and its uncertain if he'll play today.

“He's a heck of a player,” said Hoiberg, whose team beat Haws and the Cougars 83-62 last season in Ames. “He scores from all over - shooting the 3, post up, mid range. We just have to have great awareness and try to make him make tough shots.”

Last season, defensive stopper Chris Babb, who's now in the NBA D-League, contained Haws.

This time, the Cyclones will try to accomplish that feat by committee.

“It depends, especially with that new rule - that little touch foul stuff, you can be put anywhere,” said guard Naz Long, who figures to be part of that committee. “So (DeAndre) Kane will probably be on him a little bit. I'll probably be  on him a little bit, maybe a little bit Matt (Thomas). It depends, but wherever I've got to go, wherever anybody's got to go I'm sure we'll be able to step up to the challenge.”

The game will be broadcast on ESPNU.

More than 16,000 fans will pack the Marriott Center.

ISU hasn't been ranked since the 2011-12 season.

“It's just a number on paper,” Ejim said of that distinction. “I think we've got to go out and prove it.”