In 2003, the Missouri wrestling team earned its second ever dual victory over Iowa State – the first in 76 years.

On Sunday, the Tigers (9-4-1, 1-2 Big 12) look to sweep their season series with the Cyclones (11-5, 1-1).

The dual starts at 2 p.m. in Hilton Coliseum, and will be televised live by Iowa Public Television.

“This will be a great opportunity for us to even the score,” said coach Bobby Douglas. “Missouri has got a great team, and they will have a great match-plan for us. It’s going to be a great meet; this will be the best Missouri team I’ve ever seen.”

10th-ranked Missouri is coming off a 17-16 upset of Oklahoma. They feature six ranked wrestlers, including No. 1 ranked Ben Askren (174) and fifth-ranked Matt Pell (165).

Both earned bonus points in the Tigers’ 21-18 victory over Iowa State in January’s National Duals.

Eighth-ranked Travis Paulson (165) sat out the loss due to injury, but is anticipating his matchup against Pell this weekend. Pell has dropped two weight classes since last season. Last season, Cyclone Kurt Backes earned a major decision win over the Tiger to end a 18-15 win.

“[Pell]’s a stud, a tough kid,” Paulson said. “I feel we’ve had a good week of practice and I’m ready for him.”

The junior has respect for the conference foe.

“Missouri is tough this year,” he said.

“They are a real tough team, solid throughout, with individuals like Askren . Everybody has got to do their best to win this dual.”

Askren’s 34-0 record this season is the longest active winning streak in the nation.

Iowa State’s top-ranked Nate Gallick (141) has given up only one takedown all season, which came courtesy of Missouri’s Chris McCormick.

“We dueled them at National Duals and they got us,” Gallick said.

“They got us. We were short one; Travis [Paulson] was out. I think our team is wrestling better now than we have been all year.”

The Cyclones are coming off their best team performance of the year – a 20-18 win over Penn State last Sunday.

Backes headlined the effort by upsetting then-No. 1 ranked Eric Bradley, earning Big 12 wrestler of the week honors after his 10-2 major decision.

Bradley had only been taken down three times in his career prior to the loss. Backes was the first ISU wrestler to be named wrestler of the week since Travis Paulson last year.

Improvement as a team is coming at the right time of the year.

“I think we are wrestling a lot smarter than we have the rest of the year,” Gallick said. “We have had a lot of good weeks of training, and I think this week is no different . Hopefully it will carry on to March.”

Also ranked for the Tigers are Austin DeVoe (17th, 125), Tyler McCormick (17th, 133), Raymond Jordan (15th, 184) and Jeff Foust (15th, 197).

Iowa State owns the all-time series between the two schools, 42-3.