GAME NOTES: Hoping to avenge a loss earlier this season to the Oklahoma State Cowboys, the Kansas State Wildcats will play the role of hosts as they get set for a Big 12 Conference clash at Bramlage Coliseum.

Kansas State had a four-game win streak come to an end on Tuesday against Iowa State, 77-71. It was the team's second Big 12 loss this year. The Wildcats will try to improve on an 8-2 home record at Bramlage Saturday.

Oklahoma State experienced the opposite in the team's last outing. The Cowboys easily took down the Texas Tech Red Raiders, 63-43, to end a two-game skid. Oklahoma State is just 1-4 away from home this season, however.

Kansas State owns the all-time series lead over Oklahoma State, 75-51. The sides met earlier this season back on Jan. 3 in Stillwater, where the Cowboys emerged victorious, 61-47.

Oklahoma State needed the absolutely dominant win over Texas Tech to get the team back on track moving forward. Texas Tech shot just 27.8 percent from the field, and missed all six of its second-half 3-point attempts in a dismal second period overall. Le'Bryan Nash scored 16 points on 7-of-9 shooting to lead the team, while Phil Forte chipped in with 15 points of his own. Jeff Newberry scored 13 points with six rebounds to finish out a trio of players in double figures for the Pokes.

It's been a very strong year for both Nash and Forte, who lead the team in scoring this season and are ranked second and third in the conference in individual scoring. Nash is netting 17.6 ppg for the Cowboys, while Forte isn't far behind at 17.2 ppg. Nash also leads the team in rebounding, with a 6.1 rpg mark. They're the only two players in double-digit scoring this season for Oklahoma State, which as a unit is netting an even 70.0 ppg on 44.2 percent shooting. The team's scoring defense has been exceptional so far, allowing only 59.5 ppg to opponents, who are shooting just 37.7 percent from the field.

Kansas State was able to hang tough with nationally-ranked Iowa State for a majority of Tuesday's contest, but the Cyclones were able to gain just enough of an advantage late in the game to hold off the Wildcats for the victory. K- State shot 45.6 percent from the floor in the loss, and was led in scoring by Nino Williams's 22 points. Williams also tallied eight boards to pace the squad. Marcus Foster chipped in with 16 points in the defeat, while Thomas Gipson added 15 points in 33 minutes. Justin Edwards finished off the team's double-digit scorers with 12 points for the Wildcats.

Williams's strong outing in the loss to Iowa State helped the big man into the team's second-leading scorer role behind Foster, who is netting 13.7 ppg to pace Kansas State. Williams chips in with 11.5 ppg, as Gipson follows very closely at 11.4 ppg. Williams may be second on the squad in scoring, but he enters Saturday's matchup leading the Wildcats in rebounding at 5.0 boards per outing. Kansas State hasn't been the most dominant team on offense, averaging 65.8 ppg on 45.6 percent shooting. But the team in limiting opponents to just 63.2 ppg this season on the defensive side.

Kansas State not only gets the home advantage in this one, but the Wildcats should have a thirst for revenge after being demolished by Oklahoma State earlier this year. But Nash and Forte will be extremely hard to stop on the offensive end, regardless of where the game is being played. Foster, Williams and Gipson will all have to be on their game to keep up.