Iowa State Hosts Northern Illinois

No. 13 Iowa State looks to maintain an unblemished record as it plays its final nonconference game of the season Tuesday against Northern Illinois at Hilton Coliseum. The game will tip off at 6 p.m. and be shown on Cyclones.tv.

Where: Ames, Iowa - Hilton Coliseum (14,384)
When: Tuesday, Dec. 31, 6 p.m. CST
TV: Cyclones.tv powered by Mediacom | Channel Info
Talent: John Walters (PxP), Eric Heft (Color) 
Webcast: Cyclones.tv
Live Stats: Live stats will be available at cyclones.com.
Live Blog: Patrick Tarbox, assistant director of athletics communications, will be holding a live blog during the game at Cyclones.com. Fans are encouraged to participate in the blog by asking questions.

After securing the best start in school history, Iowa State (11-0, 0-0) looks to become just the seventh school (11 times) in Big 12 history to enter conference play undefeated. The Cyclones are one of just eight undefeated teams remaining nationally.  Since 1950, Iowa State has went undefeated in non-conference play just once, in 1956-57 (8-0).

Iowa State has four players averaging more than 13 points per game. The Cyclones have had five players tally 20+ points in a game this season.  Melvin Ejim is leading the Cyclones averaging 18.0 points per game to go along with 8.8 boards. Georges Niang is averaging 21.2 points and shooting 54.5 percent during the last five games. Dustin Hogue, who was named national player of the week on Dec. 10, is averaging 16.5 points and 11.7 rebounds the last six games.

Iowa State is the first school in Big 12 history to have five different players earn player of the week honors in a season.

Series Notes vs. Northern Illinois
- Iowa State and Northern Illinois are meeting for the sixth time in series history.

- Iowa State leads the all-time series 3-2. Neither team has won on the other’s home floor.

- ISU is 9-3 all-time against the Mid-American Conference (MAC).

- Abdel Nader, a junior transfer from NIU, is sitting out this season after playing his first two with the Huskies. Nader led Northern Illinois in scoring both years at the school, including 13.1 points per game as a sophomore.

- Nader isn’t the first notable transfer from Northern Illinois. Darion “Jake” Anderson played for the Cyclones in 2010-11 after playing his first three seasons in DeKalb. Anderson averaged 12.8 points and 7.2 boards as a senior. The Cyclones also played NIU that season, which was Hoiberg’s first in Ames, and beat the Huskies 72-63 at Hilton Coliseum.