The ISU men’s basketball team will have its first chance to come together as one team, ending weeks of intrasquad practice, as it takes on EA Sports in an exhibition game Saturday night.

It will be the Cyclones first chance this season to all line up on the same side, something both the team and their fans are eagerly awaiting.

“It’s going to feel good to finally get out there and play,” junior guard Curtis Stinson said. “We have been practicing really hard. We are tired of beating up on each other and ready to go at another team.”

Iowa State is 33-2 all-time in exhibitions, and beat EA Sports 81-54 last season in a preseason contest.

The Cyclones haven’t lost an exhibition game since 1997, when the Tim Floyd-coached team lost to World Basketball Opportunities. Iowa State’s only other exhibition loss came to Marathon Oil in 1994.

Three starters return for an ISU team that made it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament last season, falling to eventual national champion North Carolina.

Even with the starters returning, there are still many holes for ISU coach Wayne Morgan to fill.

Both ISU post players from last season – Jared Homan and Damion Staple – have graduated, leaving a big hole under the basket.

Freshman Shawn Taggart is a near lock to start for the Cyclones, but the final place on the starting roster is still up for grabs.

“Our big guys have been coming along well learning our system,” Stinson said. “They need to get tougher, but they are getting better.”

Fellow freshman Ross Marsden and transfers Jiri Hubalek and Jessan Gray will also figure into the mix down low.

“I’m just trying to work hard and get better every day,” said Marsden, a star from Ames High School. “I want to make sure I am ready if Coach Morgan needs me.”

All four of the Cyclone options down low are fast, playing into Iowa State’s up-tempo game plan.

“We will be a much quicker team this year and we are all ready to get this season going,” Stinson said.

The game against EA Sports will also be a chance to show what the younger players have learned.

Marsden was named the 2005 Iowa Gatorade Player of the Year after leading Ames with 13.5 points and 8.6 rebounds per game as a senior. Even with his success at the high school level, the center has had much to learn already.

“There is a huge difference between high school and college,” Marsden said. “Everything is quicker and everybody is stronger. It will take a while to get used to it, but I have been working on building my size and trying to be more physical.”

The Cyclones will play one more exhibition game, a Nov. 11 match up with Bemidji State, before they begin regular season play on Nov. 20 against Mountain State.