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Preview: Missouri-Kansas City at Iowa State
Iowa State is on the verge of climbing back into the Top 25 after starting the season with four straight wins, including consecutive thrillers over No. 13 Michigan and BYU. The Cyclones will be looking to start 5-0 for the second time under coach Fred Hoiberg and the fourth time in the past 10 seasons when they host Missouri-Kansas City on Monday night. Iowa State is already 3-0 at home on the season and has won 16 straight home games against non-conference foes.
Missouri-Kansas City handed coach Kareem Richardson his first win with a 79-67 victory at Tennessee-Martin on Wednesday. Fred Chatmon had a double-double as the Kangaroos snapped a three-game skid to start the season. Iowa State needed to rally in the second half to post a 76-61 win at Kansas City a year ago.
TV: 8 p.m. ET. N/A.
ABOUT MO.-KANSAS CITY (1-3): Richardson was an assistant to Rick Pitino during Louisville’s championship run last season. Chatmon, who grabbed 212 rebounds last season, is one of three returning starters for the ‘Roos, who were picked to finish last of nine teams in the WAC. Martez Harrison leads the squad in scoring at 15.8, but defense has been a major challenge as Kansas City has given up an average of 86.2 points in their first four games.
ABOUT IOWA STATE (4-0): Senior forward Melvin Ejim apologized via Twitter to BYU fans for making an obscene gesture to them after fouling out in the final stages of the Cyclones’ 90-88 win. While BYU fans say the apology isn’t good enough, the Cyclones don’t plan on further disciplining their star, who notched 21 points in the contest. Tyus McGee scored 21 points in last season’s win versus Kansas City which led by four points in the second half.
TIP-INS
1. Iowa State is 2-0 all-time against Missouri-Kansas City, including 1979 when it scored 121 points in the game.
2. Ejim returned to the lineup against BYU after missing the previous two games with a hyperextended knee.
3. Iowa State has put four players in double figures in every game this season.
PREDICTION: Iowa State 92, Missouri-Kansas City 68
