The Cyclones have never lost in the Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Series.

Granted, last year’s win at Oregon State was the first year of the annual power conference series. In fact, before Iowa State’s thrilling win over Northern Iowa on Wednesday, last season’s game in Corvallis, Ore., was Iowa State’s last road win.

Iowa State (5-1) will return to Hilton Coliseum on Saturday and be heavily favored to beat Oregon State (1-4) for the second straight season. The Beavers beat Fresno State in their last game, snapping a 25-game losing streak.

In last season’s 71-64 overtime win, freshman Craig Brackins had a coming out party with 23 points. This year, Brackins is coming off a 32-point night and is clearly the Cyclones’ go-to offensive player, and Brackins wouldn’t have it any other way.

“It feels good because then it opens things up for the shooters and they’re going to have to stop something or worry about something,” Brackins said.

After the first six games of the season, Brackins is averaging 18.8 points per game — a 7-point increase from last season.

Brackins believes his 32-point, 16-rebound performance Wednesday night was his greatest game as a Cyclone.

The biggest key to Brackins’ game may be his ability to stay out of foul trouble. In the Cyclones’ five wins, Brackins has averaged more than 20 points a game and hasn’t picked up more than two personal fouls in any of the contests.

However, during Iowa State’s only loss yet this season, Brackins fouled out and subsequently had his worst scoring night of the year —10 points.

The Beavers will bring a balanced attack to Ames with six players averaging more than 8 points per game.

Brothers Josh and Seth Tarver are two of Oregon State’s primary scorers, and they combined to score 22 points in last year’s game.

Overshadowing the play of the Tarvers is another pair of brothers connected to Oregon State. First-year Beavers coach Craig Robinson is the brother-in-law of President-elect Barack Obama. Robinson appeared onstage in Chicago when Obama gave his victory speech and previously gave a speech of his own — endorsing his brother-in-law at the Democratic National Convention.

“I didn’t even know that. I hope he comes out here,” said Diante Garrett when he found out about Robinson’s relation to Obama. “I’d like to meet him.”

With the Beavers losing four of their first five games, Robinson might need to borrow some of Obama’s “hope” in order to save his initial “rebuilding” season.

This will be the second-ever meeting between Iowa State and Oregon State. The last Pac-10 team to make a trip to Hilton Coliseum was Arizona State in 1987 — a game Iowa State won, 99-85. The Cyclones are 12-14 all-time against Pac-10 teams.