Iowa State men's basketball will be without two key players, Curtis Jones and Keshon Gilbert, for the Cyclones' marquee matchup vs. Houston.

Saturday, the Cyclones lost at Houston without their top two scorers, Curtis Jones (16.9 points per game) and Keshon Gilbert (14.1). Jones returned from the flu without a minutes restriction in a 74-68 loss at Oklahoma State on Tuesday,

Houston boasts one of the top defenses in the country, so taking care of the ball will be essential for Iowa State.

Iowa State announced guards Keshon Gilbert (muscle strain) and Curtis Jones (illness) will be unavailable for the game at Houston on Saturday. ESPN will broadcast the game at 1 p.m. and host its College Gameday show from Houston in the morning.

Playing without its top two scorers, No. 8 Iowa State pushed No. 5 Houston before falling 68-59 on the road Saturday as the Cougars bolstered their lead in the Big 12 title race. With Curtis Jones out due to illness and Keshon Gilbert absent due to a muscle strain,

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Curtis Jones (illness) and Keshon Gilbert (muscle strain) -- for Saturday's top-10 showdown against No. 5 Houston.