The 6-foot-10 Beasley, with one regular-season game left in the finest season any Kansas State player has ever had, seems to be reaching his highest levels as things wind down. It was his fourth straight 30-point game and he grabbed 14 rebounds for his 26th double-double, extending his own NCAA freshman record and setting the Big 12 mark.
Shouts of ``One more year, Michael,'' and ``Please don't leave, Michael'' were heard all over the arena as the game began. While Beasley has said all season he would like to stay in school, he's likely to be the No. 1 overall pick if he goes into the NBA draft and would command a three-year contract worth about $14 million.
Fellow freshman Bill Walker snapped out of a two-game shooting slump with 25 points for the Wildcats (19-10, 9-6) snapped a four-game losing streak and may have assured themselves of their first NCAA tournament bid in 12 seasons.
Marcus Hall had 22 points for Colorado (11-18, 3-12) and Richard Roby, held to one point on 0-for-5 shooting in the first half, finished with 15.
With Beasley scoring 20 points on his typically impressive variety of moves and shots, Kansas State led 41-27 at halftime. But the Wildcats committed turnovers on five of their first seven possessions in the second half and Roby and Hall led the Buffaloes' comeback.
Hall's fastbreak basket got it to 56-52. Then Beasley, seeming to hang in the air, popped in a short jumper and a moment later completed a three-point play to lead an 8-0 run.
Roby followed Levi Knutson's 3-pointer with two baskets that shaved the lead back to 71-65.
Colorado's Cory Higgins drilled a 3-pointer that made it 76-72 in the final seconds. Then Beasley stepped to the line and made two free throws for the final margin.
Beasley, who was 8-of-10 from the line and 1-of-3 from behind the 3-point arc, got the season scoring record on a goaltending call. With 780 points, he surpassed the record of 768 set by Mitch Richmond 20 years ago.