Second Iowa-ISU game in NIT sells out

Iowa and Iowa State will face off for the second time this season tonight in Ames — this time as part of the NIT Tournament. Tickets for the game sold out in two hours Thursday, and the game will not be televised.The Iowa coach Steve Alford says the regular season has helped each team improve.Alford says they’ll need to stop guards Jake Sullivan and Tim Barnes and keep them in front of them to have a chance. Iowa last played on Monday, while Iowa State played Wednesday. Alford doesn’t think the extra rest will give his team a big advantage. He says that advantage is negated by ISU playing on their home floor. ISU won the first matchup 73-69 in December and is now 17-13, while Iowa enters tonight’s contest at 16-13.