AMES, Iowa -- The threat of a major winter storm is prompting Iowa State University to cancel a pair of home basketball games.
The ISU Athletic Department says the Cyclones men's basketball game against Omaha Wednesday night and Thursday night's women's game versus Drake are being called off.
Iowa State says cancelling both games Tuesday will let student-athletes from all four schools leave town ahead of the storm and get safely home.
ISU says fans who had purchased single-game tickets for either game can get a refund from the Athletics Ticket Office.
Both teams are scheduled to be back in action on New Year's Eve as they open Big 12 conference play--the men will host Baylor, while the women travel to Texas Tech.
The National Weather Service says some places in Iowa could see as much as 11 inches of snow starting late Wednesday, then strong winds Thursday and Friday are forecast to create blizzard conditions.