The Cyclone men’s basketball team will get a break from the cold and snow of the upcoming Iowa winter when they travel to San Juan, Puerto Rico to participate in the Puerto Rico Invitational held Dec. 28-29.

Head Coach Tim Floyd said that this will not be a vacation for his squad, though.

“We’re not going down there for a lot of sight-seeing,” Floyd said. “We’re going to try to win some basketball games.”

Iowa State’s first contest will be against the reigning Big Ten champion Purdue Boilermakers on Thursday, Dec. 28.

The previous time these two teams met, Purdue came away victorious, 88-87, in overtime of last year’s Big Island Invitational championship game in Hilo, Hawaii.

On Friday, Dec. 29 the Cyclones will take on UNC-Charlotte, the team they beat 76-74 in the first round of the 1992 NCAA Tournament in Worchester, Mass.

Win or lose, neither of the games will count on the Cyclones’ record, which was one reason Floyd accepted the invite.

“When you have a chance to play two games, that don’t count towards the regular 26-game schedule, against quality teams, you have to take it,” Floyd said.

Floyd also said that the games were added to give the young Cyclones some much needed experience.

“They’ll give the team more experience,” Floyd said. “And the more experience we get, the more we’ll develop.”

Floyd added that according to some, his team might even be over-scheduled this season.

“The general school of thought is to schedule soft for an inexperienced team,” Floyd said.

“I’m from a different school, though. I believe in taking on a challenge.”