Iowa State to open Big 12 play at Kansas - KTIV News 4 Sioux City IA: News, Weather and Sports

In Iowa State's last game, the Cyclones shot 25 percent in the first half against Yale, trailed by as many as 11, before rallying for a 10-point win. That performance doesn't bode well when ISU opens the Big 12 season at number-6 Kansas on Wednesday.

On the bright side, the Cyclones are 10-3, and are the only team in the country to score at least 70 points in every game.

Iowa State had lost 13 straight to Kansas, before beating them in Ames last January. ISU has play in Lawrence 103 times, with just 15 wins.

The Cyclones need to play their best game of the season to have any shot at an upset.

"It's a very difficult team to play against," said ISU head coach Fred Hoiberg. "You have to go out and play very poised, which is easier said than done. You go out there and you have one pass that's tipped and it's a dunk. You have to go out there and play smart basketball and if you don't it can be over in a hurry."

"It's always fun to be the underdog," said ISU forward Melvin Ejim. "At Iowa State we're the underdog more often than not so you get used to it. Any time you can a top ten team or a top 25 team, it's just a chance to try and put your team on the map."

KU is chasing their ninth straight Big 12 title. Iowa State and Kansas play at 6 o'clock on Wednesday on ESPN U.