The No. 6 Baylor Bears host the torrid 18-7, 8-4 Iowa State Cyclones as both teams try to keep hopes of a Big 12 Title alive. For BU it's a longshot with No. 10 Kansas and No. 4 Missouri sweeping the Bears during the regular season. ISU split with the 20-5, 10-2 Jayhawks and get a rematch game in Columbia on Feb. 29 to try repaying a seven-point home loss to the 23-2, 10-2 Tigers.

Baylor lost 72-57 at Mizzou Arena on Saturday. The Bears led 5-0 early and pulled within one point on freshman forward Quincy Miller's layup 3:05 into the second half. However BU committed three turnovers and missed six shots the next 6:55 falling behind by as many as 14. The only point recorded in nearly seven minutes was senior forward Quincy Acy's free throw.

The Bears trailed by double digits the final 10:51 of the game. Miller was the only Baylor player to get double figures dropping in 20 on 7-of-10 shooting and 5-of-5 FTing. The Bears made 10 less three-pointers to more than erase nine more offensive rebounds by BU. The Bears also had four more TOs and just 10 assists on 21 field goals. The Tigers had 18 assists on 24 FGs.

The Cyclones have won six of their last eight and last four home games since tripping up against Missou. Iowa State's last win was a 69-46 romp against 12-12, 3-9 Texas A&M who the Cyclones routed 74-50 on the earlier earlier this year. Saturday's tilt was slightly more competitive with ISU only getting to the line 10 times making nine. The Cyclones also hit double the three-pointers the Aggies had while getting 16 more rebounds and four less TOs.

Iowa State was led by senior guards Chris Allen and Scott Christopherson scoring 25 and 10 points. Sophomore forwards Melvin Ejim and Royce White has 10 boards apiece while scoring five each. Juniors forward Anthony Booker and guard Tyrus McGee off the bench got 15 points together and six rebounds apiece. A&M shot 36.2 percent.

The Cyclones are 3-5 in away games just coming up short at KU, 12-13, 5-7 Oklahoma State and 16-9, 6-6 Texas. 13-12, 6-8 Drake and No. 25 Michigan also beat ISU by nine and 10 points during the preseason. The Cyclones won by seven at 13-11, 3-9 Oklahoma and dismantled 8-16, 1-11 Texas Tech by 24. Iowa State beat Baylor by 15 in Ames during their only meeting last year. In 2010 the Bears routed the Cyclones 84-63 and have not lost in Waco to ISU since before the Milennium. In 2002 and 2004 the Cyclones fell by five and four points.

BU has been incredible at the Ferrell Center winning their first 10. However the Bears have beaten two of their last three foes in Waco only getting by the Longhorns 76-71 on Jan. 28. Seven of their first 10 visitors fell by at least 20. Baylor beat No. 14 San Diego State, Texas A&M and 18-5, 10-0 Texas Arlington by 10 points or less. The home team has dominated this series, but with the Bears struggling and Iowa State playing the better basketball I'm obliged to run with the Cylcones to prevent BU from covering and possibly winning.