No. 4 Iowa State hosts rival Hawks

AMES — New Iowa head coach Ben McCollum is introduced to the Cy-Hawk Series on Thursday as his squad faces the daunting task of challenging fourth-ranked and unbeaten Iowa State.

Tip is set for 7 p.m. The contest, which is at Hilton Coliseum, is being televised by Fox Sports 1.

The Hawks are off to an 8-1 start under their first-year head coach, and coming off an impressive Big Ten victory over Maryland. The Cyclones (9-0) present an entirely different challenge, though, especially five days after head coach T.J. Otzelberger’s squad picked apart then-No. 1 Purdue in West Layfayette, 81-58. Milan Momcilovic had 20 points for Iowa State in the rout.

Momcilovic is averaging a team-best 18.3 points. Joshua Jefferson (17.6) and Tamin Lipsey (16.8) aren’t far behind, with Killyan Toure (12.0) also in double figures.

Jefferson also grabs 6.7 rebounds and dishes out 5.4 assists per contest. Lipsey is at 5.7 assists a night.

The Cyclones are shooting 55 percent from the field as a team, and averaging a Big 12-best 94.6 points.

Bennett Stirtz is the straw who stirs the drink for Iowa. Stirtz, who had 25 points in the squad’s 83-64 victory over the Terrapins, is at 18.8 points, 4.9 assists and 1.8 steals per game.

Cooper Koch (8.8 points) is next in line offensively.

Iowa is allowing only 43.6 percent shooting against its opponents. The Hawks, meanwhile, are making 52 percent of their field goals.

Last year, Iowa State prevailed in this matchup by a final of 89-80. The Cyclones have won three of four after dropping three in a row to Iowa previously.