After pouring in 32 points and grabbing 24 rebounds in his first collegiate performance against Sacramento State in November, it was evident that Kansas State freshman Michael Beasley was the real deal.

Since that first outburst, the multitalented forward has continued to impress, leading the Big 12 in both scoring (24.8 ppg) and rebounding (12.6 rpg) while helping the Wildcats (13-4, 3-0 Big 12) to a perfect start in conference play.

In just 17 career games, Beasley has already turned in six 30-plus-point games and two 20-plus-rebound games. Last time out, Beasley scored 29 points – 26 in the second half – and grabbed 13 rebounds in a 72-56 win at Colorado on Wednesday.

On Saturday, Kansas State’s perfect conference record will be put on the line as Beasley and the Wildcats host Iowa State (12-7, 2-2 Big 12) in the hope of keeping pace with the two other unbeaten teams in the Big 12 – Kansas (19-0, 4-0 Big 12) and Baylor (16-2, 4-0 Big 12).

ISU head coach Greg McDermott said that, in order to beat Kansas State, the Cyclones must focus on keeping the 6-foot-9-inch, 235-pound Beasley from having a big night.

“He’s as talented as anybody in the country, and you have to try to limit his touches and do everything you can to make him give it up once he catches it,” McDermott said. “It’ll take not just one guy to stop him – it’ll take a great team effort.”

The Cyclones, who have already dropped road games to both the Bears and the Jayhawks, will be looking to bounce back from Wednesday’s 24-point loss at Kansas as they continue their tough conference schedule against the Wildcats.

“We’re in a stretch that our first three road games in conference play are against three teams that are in first place and undefeated,” said ISU head coach Greg McDermott. “We didn’t shoot the basketball very well at KU, and to go on the road and win, you can’t afford to have a bad shooting night, and that’s what happened at Kansas.”

Iowa State turned in a season-low shooting performance in the loss to Kansas, making just 19 shots on 61 attempts from the field. The team also attempted a season-high 28 three-pointers against the Jayhawks, making only six.

McDermott hopes that improved shooting, paired with limiting turnovers, could help the Cyclones earn their first conference road win on Saturday.

“The game we lost to Baylor, we turned it over too much, so if we can improve on those areas and continue to be solid on defense, we should hopefully give ourselves a chance to win.”