Oklahoma State Basketball: Predicting Iowa State

The Oklahoma State basketball team takes on the Iowa State Cyclones tonight at Hilton Coliseum in Ames, at 8 p.m. CT on ESPN2.

The Oklahoma State basketball team takes on the no. 24 ranked Iowa State Cyclones tonight at 8 p.m. CT at Hilton Coliseum in Ames. You can watch tonight’s contest on ESPN2. The Clones enter the game as three point favorites at home.

The Clones and Cowboys are two of the hottest teams in the country right now. ISU won their last five games while OK State won 10 of their last 11.

ISU’s last victory came against the no. 11 Baylor Bears in a 72-69 victory at Hilton. OK State’s last victory came against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Gallagher-Iba Arena by a 80-63 score.

There’s a great chance that ISU and OK State could meet up again in the Big 12 Tournament next week. If not the Cowboys are likely to face the Bears.

The first time these two teams met the Cowboys to the Clones 96-86 at GIA. However, the Cowboys look like a different team this time around. That early season conference loss to the Clones came at a time when the Cowboys lost their first six conference games.

The most intriguing matchup in this game comes between the two starting point guards. ISU’s Monte Morris and OK State’s Jawun Evans are two of the very best guards not only in the Big 12 but in the entire country.

ISU’s senior forward Deonte Burton is coming off one of his best games of the season against BU. He posted 22 points and three blocks in the victory. OK State’s senior forward Leyton Hammonds, who has been hot of late as well, likely draws the matchup against Burton.

Senior shooting guard Phil Forte got back on track against TTU after hitting a rough patch against the TCU Horned Frogs and Kansas State Wildcats. Forte posted 15 points, five rebounds, and one steal in the victory. His floor spacing is a must against the efficient Clones offense tonight. He scored a team-high 24 points against ISU in the first meeting.

Junior forward Jeffrey Carroll led the Pokes in points last game with 17. Carroll scored in double figures in six of the last seven games. He scored 21 points the first time around against ISU.

OK State enters tonight’s matchup with a 20-9 (9-7 Big 12) record. Meanwhile, ISU enters the game with a 19-9 (11-5 Big 12) record. The Clones actually sit in second place in the Big 12 standings, in front of both West Virginia and BU. However, a loss would not them down to a three way tie with WVU and BU.

Next: Oklahoma State Basketball: Big 12 Tournament Schedule Released

Look out for a huge night from Carroll and Forte, as this is Forte’s last regular season road game of his career with the Pokes. The Clones are motivated to keep their spot in the Big 12 standings. They have also been an incredibly tough out at Hilton this season. ISU continues their winning streak to six games tonight.

Iowa State 81, Oklahoma State 74