No. 3 Iowa State vs. Morgan State primer

WHO: No. 3 Iowa State (9-1, 0-0 Big 12) vs. Morgan State (6-8, 0-0 MEAC)

Where: Hilton Coliseum (14,267) – Ames, Iowa

When: Sunday, December 22, 2024 – 12pm CT

Watch/Listen: ESPN+ / Cyclone Radio Network

Tip: No. 3 Iowa State will complete its non-conference game this Sunday against Morgan State. The Bears will be the final game of an 11-game non-conference schedule, which then switches to a 20-game Big 12 schedule on Dec. 30 when ISU travels to Colorado.

The Cyclones had just one outing last week, a 32-point win over Omaha on Sunday. After a slow start against the Mavericks, Iowa State pulled away late in the first half and extended its home winning streak to 24 games – the fifth-longest streak in the country.

Winners of three of their last five games, Morgan State will come to Hilton Coliseum looking for its first road win of the season. The Bears are one of the most opportunistic offenses in the country, ranking in the top ten in both fastbreak points per game (18.8) and field goal percentage (50.8). MSU leads the MEAC in points per game (82.6).

Storylines:

• Keshon Gilbert has been ISU’s MVP so far, leading the team in minutes, points and assists. He was named Big 12 Player of the Week twice this season.
• Iowa State’s “sixth starter,” Curtis JonesHe was one of the elite players coming off the bench for Iowa State. He leads the team in field goals made and three-pointers made.
• A preseason All-Big 12 First Team selection, Tamin Lipsey was the glue of the Iowa State team. Lipsey is a known defensive threat and leads the team in steals.
• Transfer of Saint Mary Joshua Jefferson was an important and versatile player this season. Jefferson leads the team in rebounding and has earned two Big 12 Newcomer of the Week awards.
• Sophomore wing Milan Momcilovic He only averages about 12 points per game and shoots the team’s highest 3-ball at a whopping 47 percent.
• A transfer from Charlotte, big man Dishon Jackson was a power in color. He leads the team in blocks and is one of five players averaging double figures.
• A Swiss army knife from the bank, Nate Heise has really come into its own. His defensive ability to pin down opposing players has been on display recently.

From the notes:

• As a head coach, Otz is 178-99 overall and has led the Cyclones to a 79-36 record over the last four years.

  • ISU is 51-8 in games played at Hilton Coliseum under Otzelberger.

• Under Otz, ISU is 46-9 in non-conference games. The 46 wins are the eighth most in the nation and the winning percentage of .836 is the sixth best.
• Coach Otzelberger is the only Iowa State men’s basketball coach to lead multiple teams to the Sweet 16.

  • He became the 51st coach in NCAA Division I history to lead a team to the Sweet 16 twice in his first three years in charge.
  • Otz will attempt to become the first coach in program history to lead a team to the NCAA Tournament in his first four years of coaching.

• The Cyclones were ranked in the AP Top 10 for 14 consecutive weeks, making them the only school in the country to be ranked in double digits in consecutive weeks.
• Coach Otzelberger currently holds the Iowa State career winning percentage record with 0.687 of his games won.
• The Cyclones are ranked No. 5 in the NET. Iowa State is No. 5 in the KenPom rankings and No. 6 in ESPN’s Basketball Power Index.

Changing sides:

• This will be the second meeting ever between Iowa State and Morgan State. The two met back in 1985 – a home game that ISU won by 47 points.

  • ISU is 17-0 all-time against teams in the MEAC.

• The Bears were selected by the conference’s head coaches and sports information directors to finish fourth of eight spots in the MEAC men’s basketball preseason poll.
• Three Bears were named to the preseason All-MEAC teams. Seniors Wynston Tabbs and Will Thomas received first-team honors, while Kameron Hobbs was named a third-team player.
• Morgan State returned nine players from last year’s team that finished 11-20 and added eight players – one freshman and seven freshman transfers.
• Morgan State head coach Kevin Broadus is in his sixth year at the helm of the Bear program.

  • Broadus has a 74-83 record at MSU and a 111-108 record overall in his eight-year head coaching career that began at Binghamton (2007-09).

• Morgan State is ranked No. 354 in NET. The Bears are No. 347 in KenPom and No. 343 in ESPN’s Basketball Power Index.