The ISU men’s basketball team gets their first chance at fresh competition tonight hosting Next Level Sports in an exhibition game at 7 p.m. at Hilton Coliseum.

The 25th-ranked Cyclones have spent the last month scrimmaging in practice and are looking forward to putting their skills on display.

“I think the team is really looking forward to get the chance to play against somebody other than themselves,” ISU Associate Head Basketball Coach Terry Carroll said. “We’ve been practicing hard for three weeks, and now the players get to play before a crowd and show what they can do. Competition for positions is also motivation.”

The Cyclones return six players that started or saw playing time last year. Returning starters are guards Jamaal Tinsley and Kantrail Horton, who averaged 11 and 8.7 point per game last season.

Other returnees are seniors Martin Rancik, Paul Shirley, Richard Evans and sophomore Brandon Hawkins.

The exhibition will be the first chance for six Cyclone newcomers to get experience at the college level. The Cyclones brought in a solid group of recruits, led by guards Zach Fortune and Jake Sullivan, and forwards Shane Power and Tyray Pearson.

Carroll said that the exhibition game is a good stage to mix the newcomers with the veterans and see what develops.

“That’s the nice thing about an exhibition game, everybody is going to play,” Carroll said. “From a coach’s standpoint, Larry [Eustachy] can play different combinations and see how guys play together. Up to this point, it’s been eight on eight in practice, and now we get to see what they look like together on the same team.”

Next Level Sports will be playing its eighth game in eight days and consists of several players with college experience.

Next Level comes to Ames off overtime victories over Creighton and Kansas State in the last two nights.

“They got a real nice group of players,” Carroll said. “They’ll be very talented and experienced. All of their guys have played major college basketball.”

On the team is former Cyclone Michael Nurse and C.J. Bruton, who signed to play at Iowa State, but then opted to enter the NBA draft.

Nurse started all 37 games of the Cyclones’ Big 12 championship and NCAA Elite Eight run. Nurse averaged 12.7 point per game and was the team’s top three-point shooter.

“They already want to win, but I’m sure that will give them more reason to win,” Carroll said. “Michael is going to want to come in here and get a win.”