Iowa State point guard Monte Morris is inches away from history. 

Morris is just three assists shy of breaking Iowa State’s all-time record of 665 set by Jeff Hornacek, who played for the Cyclones in the early-to-mid 1980s. Morris is likely to break it Saturday afternoon, when Iowa State takes on Vanderbilt on the road as part of the Big 12/SEC Challenge.

Morris obviously wanted to break the record at Hilton Coliseum, but it makes it a bit better that his mom, Latonia, will be in attendance Saturday to potentially watch the feat. 

“I wanted it to happen here, which I’m not going to point shave or stop at two to make it happen,” Morris joked Thursday. “It would’ve been good to have it at Hilton, but everything happens for a reason and hopefully Saturday will be the night.”

Morris has said the potential to get the record is a “blessing.” When he’s on the court Saturday afternoon, it’d be safe to bet that he’ll have one eye on the assists column on the scoreboard. 

“It’s big time,” Morris said. “I’m just fortunate to be in this position.” 

After an already illustrious career at Iowa State, Morris has embarked on one of his best seasons to date in his senior campaign. Morris owns a nation’s best 4.87 assist-to-turnover ratio (112-23). In Big 12 play, Morris is even better, owning a 6.1 assist-to-turnover ratio (49-8). 

Against The Citadel in mid-December, Morris put up the fourth triple-double in Iowa State history. He scored 17 points, grabbed 10 boards and dished out 10 assists. 

Morris is also closing in on the all-time steals record. He has 200 — 28 this season — which ties him for fourth with Curtis Stinson. Hornacek owns the steals records with 211. 

Iowa State guard Naz Mitrou-Long, who has been one of the primary benefactors of Morris’ ability to pass the ball, said he’ll try to keep an eye on the record throughout the game. 

“That’s awesome,” Mitrou-Long said. “That’s a credit to him and all of the work that he’s put in behind the scenes and who he is as a point guard. He makes everyone around him look good. Without him, there’s no us.

“I was kind of hoping that it would be at Hilton. But for him to get it on the road, like I know he will, and to get a win, it makes it even better. Just credit to Monte, the best point guard I ever played with.” 

And if Mitrou-Long is the one that buckets Morris’ third — and record-breaking — assist? 

“We might go to half court and have a dance-off or something,” he joked. “Hopefully, I’d win.”