AMES, Iowa (Interstat) — A surging Iowa State men’s basketball team, ranked among the nation’s elite with a perfect 10-0 record, will look to maintain its momentum Sunday when it hosts struggling Eastern Illinois at Hilton Coliseum. The Cyclones, coming off a hard-fought 66-62 victory over in-state rival Iowa on Thursday, have showcased a dominant and balanced attack. A key catalyst has been forward Joshua Jefferson, who is coming off a 24-point performance against the Hawkeyes. Over his last five games, Jefferson has averaged 19.6 points, 7.4 rebounds and 6.2 assists, including a triple-double against Alcorn State (24 points, 10 assists) and a near triple-double against Stonehill (23 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists). Eastern Illinois (2-7) enters on a four-game losing streak, most recently falling 68-59 to Eastern Kentucky on Wednesday. The Panthers have faced a challenging non-conference slate, including blowout losses to power conference foes Purdue (109-62) and Kentucky (99-53). Guard Meechie White has been a bright spot, averaging 13.2 points and 4.0 assists per game. He scored 23 points in the loss at Purdue and is coming off a 12-point, 5-assist effort against Eastern Kentucky. The matchup presents a stark contrast in trajectories. Iowa State’s defense has been stifling, holding opponents to an average of 66.3 points per game during its unbeaten start, which includes a decisive 81-58 road win at Purdue—a team that defeated Eastern Illinois by 47 points. The Cyclones’ offense has also been explosive, topping 95 points four times. For the Panthers, the challenge will be containing Jefferson and the Cyclones’ multifaceted offense while finding consistent scoring beyond White. Zion Fruster (16 points vs. EKU) and Andre Washington (11 points vs. EKU) will need to provide significant support. This game serves as the final tune-up for Iowa State before Big 12 Conference play begins in January. Eastern Illinois will look to find a rhythm before opening Ohio Valley Conference action on Jan. 1. Tipoff is set for Sunday afternoon at Hilton Coliseum.