No. 3 Iowa State looking for fine-tuning against Will Thomas-led Morgan State

No. 3 Iowa State has one more nonconference matchup before it heads into what promises to be a challenging Big 12 Conference schedule.

The Cyclones (9-1) will look to fine-tune their performance on both ends of the floor when they host Morgan State (6-8) on Sunday afternoon in Ames, Iowa.

Iowa State is coming off an 83-51 win at home against Omaha on Dec. 15. The Cyclones are going for their seventh win in a row, and their only defeat this season was a two-point setback against then-No. 4 Auburn.

Five players are scoring in double figures for Iowa State.

Keshon Gilbert leads the way with 16.4 points per game to go along with a team-high five assists. Curtis Jones is averaging 15.7 points and shooting 40 percent from beyond the arc, and Milan Momcilovic is averaging 11.8 points and shooting 46.9 percent from 3-point range.

Joshua Jefferson (11.5 points per game) and Dishon Jackson (10.9) round out the Cyclones' top five scorers.

The nonconference slate has allowed Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger to assess some of his reserve players, as well. One of those is Brandton Chatfield, who is averaging 3.2 points and 3.7 rebounds and has impressed coaches and teammates with his performance during his limited time on the court.

"Brandt's confidence is continuing to grow," Otzelberger said. "I'll actually say the last two days even, probably the best he's been in practice. His confidence is high, he's feeling good, and he knows his teammates believe in him, trust him. ... I think he's got some really good basketball in front of him this year."

Morgan State will take on a ranked opponent for the first time this season. The Bears have lost six of their last nine games but are coming off an 86-76 win against Campbell on Dec. 15.

Wynston Tabbs leads Morgan State with 16.1 points per game. Will Thomas is next with 12.9 points per game, and Amahrie Simpkins is averaging 12.3 points while shooting 59.4 percent from the field.

Thomas will try to stay hot after one of his best games of the season. He is coming off a 27-point performance in which he made 12 of 19 shots against Campbell.

Thomas made 1 of 2 attempts from beyond the arc. He is shooting 63.2 percent (12 of 19) from 3-point range this season, and he has matched his total from beyond the arc after shooting 20.3 percent (12 of 59) from distance during the 2023-24 campaign.

"I've been working on the three ball a lot the last few months, just trying to perfect that," Thomas said.

This will be the first time the teams have met since Jan. 3, 1985, which is the only other time they have played. Iowa State won that game 114-67.

Iowa State is 6-0 at home this season. Morgan State is 0-6 on the road.

--Field Level Media