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Beasley looks to carry Kansas State yet again

Nov 25, 2007 - 2:39 PM No. 20 Kansas St (4-1) at Rider (3-2) 1:00 pm EST

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Florida (Ticker) - Michael Beasley was regarded as one of the best freshmen to enter college basketball this season. At this pace though, he may be regarded as one of its best players by midseason.

Beasley will try to lead No. 20 Kansas State to victory over Rider in the fourth-place game of the Old Spice Classic on Sunday.

Just five games into his college career, Beasley is serving notice as one of the premier players in the nation, averaging 30 points, 16.6 rebounds and 1.6 blocks.

True to form, the 6-9 forward has scored 30 points in each of this tournament's first two games - a 87-77 opening-round loss to George Mason and a 73-71 win over Central Florida.

The Wildcats will be looking to iron out their spotty play in the tournament as they had 20 turnovers to just 15 assists against the Knights on Friday after registering 19 turnovers and only 11 assists in Thursday's loss to the Patriots.

Rider defeated Penn State, 82-73, on Friday in the second round to advance to the fourth-place game. The Broncs lost to North Carolina State, 72-63, in the first round on Thursday.

Brothers Jason, a 6-11 forward who is averaging 20.2 points and 12.2 rebounds, and Ryan Thompson, a sophomore guard, is adding averaging 13.6 points, 8.2 boards and 5.4 assists per game for the Broncs.