No. 4 Iowa State will play No. 5 Oklahoma State in the quarterfinal round of the Big 12 Championship. The game is slated to start at 11:30 a.m. Thursday at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri, and can be seen on ESPN2. 

Here are some predictions from Iowa State Daily staff members on how the game will end up. 

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Luke Manderfeld, Sports Editor

Winner: Oklahoma State

Score: 84-79

This is a classic case of two hot teams meeting at the perfect time. 

Before Iowa State beat Oklahoma State last Tuesday, the Cowboys had won six straight games. The Cyclones have won seven of their last nine games. They’ve also swept Oklahoma State this season. 

But, as anyone knows, it’s hard to beat a team three times in a season, especially in the Big 12. The Cyclones will have the upper hand in terms of fan support down in Kansas City, but I think Oklahoma State will shake off its two losses to Iowa State and pull out the victory.  

Ryan Young, Assistant Sports Editor 

Winner: Iowa State

Score: 89-85

It’s a hard task to beat a team three times in one season — and I generally don’t ever bet on that to happen. But this time, Iowa State is going to pull off that difficult feat and sneak by Oklahoma State with a win.

It’ll no doubt be a tough task. Oklahoma State is an incredibly talented team. It pulled off an impressive stretch in February to grab six wins and stay in postseason consideration. 

But Iowa State is just as hot — it has won seven of its last nine games. I don’t think the loss at West Virginia last Friday will snap the Cyclones’ streak. They’ll sneak past the Cowboys on Thursday, moving into the semifinal round of the Big 12 Championship.

Ben Visser, Assistant Sports Editor

Winner: Iowa State

Score: 74-69

This game is going to come down to the last minute. Whichever team hits the clutch shots at the end of the game will walk away the victor. And if recent history has told us anything, it’s Iowa State that usually gets the win.

While Phil Forte has been at Oklahoma State for roughly 30 years, Iowa State is still the more experienced team. That experience will push the Cyclones over the edge.

Monté Morris and Naz Mitrou-Long both have experience hitting big shots, while Matt Thomas and Deonte Burton have the ability to put the game away.

Emily Barske, Editor-in-Chief

Winner: Iowa State

Score: 82-76

Though the game will be played at “Hilton South,” a win over Oklahoma State won’t come quite as easy as the Cyclones’ senior night in Hilton Coliseum last week. The Big 12 is the best conference in college basketball currently, and no teams should be counted out, including Oklahoma State.

Shots will have to fall from all spots on the floor if Iowa State wants to move past the Cowboys. After an unexpected loss in the first round of the Big 12 Championship last year, Iowa State will come in focused and be looking to make a statement in the first round.