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Kansas State, Beasley look to continue hot start

Nov 17, 2007 - 2:07 PM Western Illinois (1-1) at No. 24 Kansas St (2-0) 7:00 pm EST

MANHATTAN, Kansas (Ticker) -- Quick starts to the season are nothing new for No. 24 Kansas State. Off to a 2-0 start for the fifth consecutive season, the Wildcats conclude a three-game homestand Saturday against Western Illinois.

Freshman phenom Michael Beasley is averaging 31 points and 19 rebounds for Kansas State. The 6-10, 235-pound forward is the first player since Askia Jones in 1994 to score 30 or more points in back-to-back games and the first true freshman to accomplish the feat.

Beasley is one of four players averaging in double figures for the Wildcats, including Blake Young (15.5), Jacob Pullen (11.5) and Bill Walker (11.0).

Western Illinois is coming off a 61-49 loss at Morehead State. Sophomore newcomer David Nurse leads the Leathernecks in scoring at 16.5 points, assists (3.0) and 3-point shooting (7-for-14).

Three newcomers have seen the starting lineup in the first two games for Western Illinois, including freshman forward James Granstra and junior guard David DuBois. Kansas State assistant coach Brad Underwood spent 10 seasons with the Leathernecks, serving from 1992-2003 as Jim Kerwin's top assistant.

The teams have met only once, with the Wildcats posting a 67-57 victory in the 1981-82 season.