Iowa State basketball: Three things to watch when the Cyclones play Utah

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One team is trying to keep its winning momentum going, while the other will have a tall task to try to break up a three-game losing skid.

No. 3-ranked Iowa State (12-1, 2-0 Big 12 Conference) has a nine-game winning streak entering Tuesday’s men’s basketball game against visiting Utah. The Cyclones beat then-ranked Baylor in wire-to-wire fashion in their previous outing on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Utah (8-5, 0-2) is on the hunt for its first win in conference play. The Utes suffered a 95-88 loss to Iowa on a neutral court in South Dakota to begin the three-game losing streak. Since then, they suffered back-to-back 20-point losses to Baylor and Texas Tech to start Big 12 action.

Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT from Hilton Coliseum. The game will also be available on ESPN+.

Here are three things to watch for on Tuesday night:

Gabe Madsen of Utah is pressured by Iowa’s Pryce Sandfort, left, and Ladji Dembele, right, during an NIT game in Salt Lake City on March 24, 2024.

Twin brothers Gabe and Mason Madsen are a solid one-two scoring punch for the Utes.

The fifth-year senior duo began their collegiate careers together at Cincinnati during the 2020-21 season. Gabe went straight to Utah after that first year, while Mason stayed with the Bearcats for another season and eventually played at Boston College for two years before reuniting with his brother this season.

Gabe Madsen is the Utes’ leading scorer. He averages 16.5 points per game, while shooting 42.7% overall and 36.9% from beyond the arc.

Big 12 opponents have been able to contain him, though. Through the Baylor and Texas Tech games, he’s scored a combined seven points on 1-of-13 shooting, which includes a 1-of-10 clip from long range.

While Gabe is the top scorer, Mason Madsen is more of a consistent three-point shooting threat for the Utes. He is second on the team with 11.3 points per game and he’s shooting 44.8% from beyond the arc, which is the fourth-highest mark in the Big 12.

Mason Madsen is coming off a scoreless…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/iowa-state-basketball-three-things-212632892.html

Author : The Des Moines Register

Publish date : 2025-01-06 21:26:00

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