Cyclone Basketball Teams Will Play Dec. 16 At Wells Fargo Arena In D.M. Men's Team Meets Bradley On ESPN2, Women Face St. Louis

For the second year in a row, Iowa State's men's and women's basketball teams will play in Des Moines.

The men's team faces Bradley of the Missouri Valley Conference in the Mediacom Cyclone Capital Classic on Dec. 16, 2006 at the Wells Fargo Arena.

The Cyclone women’s team will host St. Louis University. Tipoff times have not been set, but the men’s game will be televised nationally by ESPN2.

The Braves, 22-11 last year and ranked 24th in the final poll, were one of the Cinderella stories from the 2005-06 NCAA men's tournament after advancing to the Sweet 16.

That club won 13 of its final 17 games, including NCAA tournament wins over Kansas (77-73) and Pittsburgh (72-66). The Braves were eliminated by top-seed Memphis. The St. Louis women’s team is led by senior guard Tyler McIlwraith (15.6-point average) and second-year coach Shimmy Gray.

“We are very excited to continue our relationship with Mediacom and all the great Cyclone fans in the Des Moines area. Playing games in Des Moines annually is one of our many initiatives to help cultivate more Cyclone fans in our capital city,” Iowa State athletic director Jamie Pollard said.

“Getting the national television exposure from the ESPN family is a direct reflection of what the network thinks of a match-up between the Big 12 and a powerful mid major.”

Added Pollard: "The cooperation between the Wells Fargo Arena and ESPN2 was instrumental in making the game a reality. Scheduling special event, cross sectional games is hard, especially during that time of the year.

"However, the willingness of all parties to work together resulted in our capital city getting a very desirable non-conference match-up that will be broadcast to a national audience.”

The doubleheader will not be a part of the men’s and women’s season ticket packages, but Cyclone season ticketholders will have the first opportunity to reserve tickets for this doubleheader on their ticket renewal forms this summer.

Ticket prices for the doubleheader and the on-sale date for the general public will be established in the near future.