AMES, Iowa (Interstat) — A surging Iowa State team riding a five-game winning streak will host a struggling Colorado squad mired in a five-game skid when the Big 12 rivals meet Thursday night at Hilton Coliseum.

The No. 4-ranked Cyclones (18-2, 7-1 Big 12) have established themselves as a conference title contender, boasting one of the nation’s top records. Their only losses came in tough road games at Cincinnati and Kansas. They are coming off an 84-71 victory at Oklahoma State on Saturday, powered by a season-high 29 points from standout forward Milan Momcilovic.

Momcilovic has been on a tear, averaging 24.4 points over his last five contests, including a 34-point outburst in the loss at Cincinnati. His scoring prowess will be a primary focus for the Buffaloes’ defense.

Colorado (12-8, 2-6) arrives in Ames desperate to reverse its fortunes after Saturday’s 95-86 home loss to UCF. It was the Buffaloes’ fifth consecutive defeat following a promising 2-1 start to conference play. During the losing streak, their defense has allowed an average of 80.2 points per game.

The Buffaloes will lean on forward Sebastian Rancik, who scored 20 points in the loss to UCF and is averaging 14.1 points over his last seven games. Support from guards Isaiah Johnson and Barrington Hargress, who also each had 20 points against UCF, will be crucial to keep pace with Iowa State’s potent attack.

Hilton Coliseum presents a major challenge for any visitor, as the Cyclones are 11-0 at home this season, winning by an average margin of 26.5 points. Colorado is 1-4 in true road games.

This matchup is the only scheduled meeting between the teams this regular season. Iowa State will look to maintain its momentum before a pivotal stretch that includes games against Baylor, Kansas and Houston. Colorado seeks a season-altering upset to stop its slide before returning home to host TCU on Sunday.