The ISU men’s basketball team hits the road for Missouri, hoping to erase memories of Saturday’s 86-81 overtime loss to Texas A&M.

The Cyclones (12-6, 2-3 Big 12) lost their fourth home game of the season – equaling ISU coach Wayne Morgan’s total home losses in his first two seasons – in heartbreaking fashion after holding a second-half lead of as many as 10 points.

It was the second time in three games the Cyclones lost after holding second-half leads, a troubling statistic for Morgan and company.

“It’s probably a lack of experience and having the ability to know exactly how to handle that,” Morgan said. “When our young guys get that experience and get to that level where they know what to do in those situations and what plays to make, then we will win those games.”

The team’s youth, particularly in the post, has contributed to some of Iowa State’s early struggles, but centers Ross Marsden and Jiri Hubalek have stepped up recently, each notching career nights in the scoring category Saturday against the Aggies.

Hubalek’s career-high 16 points marked the third straight game in which he reached double figures. Marsden, after notching just two points in 51 minutes the previous two games, tied a career high with 10 and earned some confidence from Morgan.

“Those guys have made progress,” Morgan said. “They’ve made a lot of progress, but this is a process. We don’t have magic dust that we sprinkle over their heads and make them great players.

“We’re not where we want to be, but they’ve made progress.”

Even with the progress being made on the offensive end of the floor, the defensive end may be a concern the Cyclones in their tilt with the Tigers. Missouri is led by standout Thomas Gardner who notched 21 points in the Tigers’ previous contest against Kansas State.

Gardner is especially dangerous from 3-point range, since he shoots 42 percent from downtown.

The Cyclones gave up nine 3-pointers against Texas A&M, including a game-tying 3-pointer with 15 seconds to go, and Morgan said the team will have to pay extra attention to Gardner.

“We’re going to have to do everything well,” Morgan said. “There’s no phase of the game that we can leave out. We’re going to have to defend their 3-point shots. There’s something that if you have to concentrate on one thing in the game, that’s it.”

Missouri also has a threat inside: senior Kevin Young. Young is averaging more than eight points and eight rebounds per game, which is good for third in the conference in rebounding.

Iowa State has been out-rebounded in each of its three conference losses.

Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at Mizzou Arena.