The No. 8 Iowa State Cyclones have been on a winning streak, securing four consecutive victories since Milan Momcilovic's return from injury.

However, they will face a significant challenge against No. 4 Houston on February 22, 2025, as they will be without their top two scorers, Curtis Jones and Keshon Gilbert.

Jones is unavailable due to illness, while Gilbert is sidelined with a muscle strain.

This season, Iowa State has only played 30 minutes without both players on the court, highlighting their importance to the team.

The absence of Jones and Gilbert will put Iowa State's perimeter depth to the test, with preferred walk-on Cade Kelderman potentially needing to step up despite his limited experience in Big 12 play.

Coach T.J. Otzelberger is expected to lean on Nate Heise, a transfer from Northern Iowa, to fill the backcourt role, even though Heise has averaged only 3.8 points this season.

In a recent game against Colorado, Heise demonstrated his potential by scoring 11 points, suggesting he could contribute more in this crucial matchup.

This game is critical for the Big 12 title race, as a victory for Houston would give them a two-game lead in conference play.