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Experienced George Mason upends Beasley, Kansas State

Nov 23, 2007 - 5:21 AM ORLANDO, Florida (Ticker) -- Michael Beasley and his young Kansas State teammates were overshadowed by a more experienced - albeit less-heralded - team from George Mason.

John Vaughan scored 21 points and Will Thomas and Folarin Campbell added 18 apiece as the Patriots upset the 20th-ranked Wildcats, 87-77, at the Old Spice Classic on Thursday night.

Jordan Carter collected 10 points and 10 rebounds for George Mason (4-0), which set a school record with its fourth straight win to start the season. The Patriots will face Villanova in the second round of the tournament on Friday.

Best known for its stunning upset of high-powered Connecticut en route to the Final Four in 2005-06, George Mason looks ready to lift mid-major schools to prominence once again this campaign.

The Patriots returned all five starters from last season's squad and thoroughly beat much-hyped Kansas State, which features Beasley - one of the most prized freshmen in the country.

Beasley has been virtually unstoppable for the Wildcats so far this season, averaging 30.0 points and 20.0 rebounds entering Thursday's play. The 6-10, 235-pounder continued his stellar play in this one, collecting 30 points and 10 rebounds.

But it was not enough against George Mason, which ran out to a nine-point lead at halftime and was never seriously threatened in the second half. Vaughan was 6-of-14 from the field, and Thomas and Campbell combined to shoot 12-of-22.

Heralded redshirt freshman Bill Walker, who had a serious knee injury last season, scored just 11 points on 2-of-9 shooting for the Wildcats (3-1).