Two Big 12 powerhouses with identical records lock horns tonight at the Ferrell Center, as the No. 13 Iowa State Cyclones square off with the No. 25 Baylor Bears. Both programs met earlier this season and it was the Bears who emerged victorious at the Hilton Coliseum. Can they take down Iowa State again? Or will the Cyclones get their revenge this time around?
Betting on the Iowa State Cyclones (18-7, 7-5 Big 12)
Following a heart-breaking three-point loss to Texas Tech last Wednesday, the Iowa State Cyclones immediately got back on track against Texas on Saturday with an 85-75 victory. Starring in that game was the pair of Georges Niang and Monte Morris who both scored 24 points apiece to lead the attack for their squad.
With the win, the Cyclones have now won two of their previous three games and will look to sustain their momentum when they travel to Waco for an intriguing showdown with another conference rival in the form of the No. 25 Baylor Bears. Iowa State is 1-4 SU and 2-3 ATS in its last five meetings with the Bears.
It’s safe to say that the Cyclones will be putting their trust on Niang and Morris once again. The two are currently the team’s top offensive threats, averaging 19.2 PPG and 15.1 PPG respectively. Niang, in particular, has been the most consistent producer as he’s managed to finish score 11 or more points in all of his games this season. He also filled up the stat sheet during their last meeting with the Bears on January 9, posting 22 points, six rebounds and eight dimes.
Meanwhile, Jameel McKay should be able to continue leading the charge on the defensive end of the floor and also provide a big boost off the bench. He tallied eight points and four blocks in their game versus the Longhorns. And across 23 games this season, McKay is contributing 12.2 PPG, 9.0 RPG and 1.8 BPG.
As for the Baylor Bears, they’ll be looking for some consistency after losing three of their previous four contests. The most recent one came against Texas Tech, who beat them, 84-66, on Saturday night. Taurean Prince and Lester Medford combined for 30 points but their efforts were unfortunately laid to waste.
Now, the Bears will hope that a trip back home can help them bounce back when the 13th-ranked Iowa State Cyclones come to town. Baylor has won six of its previous nine home games, going 3-6 ATS during that span.
Key to their victory will ultimately depend on how well they can stop Iowa State’s main go-to-guys in George Niang and Monte Morris from finding their grooves. That said, the pressure is definitely on Baylor’s defense, which is allowing 69.3 PPG, to avoid any mental lapses or miscommunications on their defensive coverages.
On offense, look to Prince and Rico Gathers to be very aggressive in this one. Both are posting double-figures in points this season and Prince, in particular, has been sizzling with 15.8 PPG in his last eight outings. That stretch includes his game versus Kansas State on January 20, wherein he finished with 19 points and 13 rebounds to help the Bears capture the thrilling double-overtime victory.
