GAME NOTES: In their first road test of the season, the Kansas State Wildcats will challenge the Long Beach State 49ers in a non-conference tilt at Walter Pyramid.

Home games against Southern Utah and UMKC started the season for Kansas State, which posted victories in each contest, topping the Thunderbirds, 98-68, and the Kangaroos, 83-73. The Wildcats will take off for Hawaii following this contest, as they continue play in the Maui Invitational.

Long Beach State has been a bit busier than Kansas State thus far, with three games on the books. The 49ers have been uneven in those three battles, with a record of just 1-2 to show for their efforts. They were routed by Xavier most recently, 97-74. They have a tough test at UCLA on Sunday to look forward to from here.

Marcus Foster scored 17 points to lead K-State to a 71-58 victory over LBSU last season. The win was the sixth in eight series meetings for the Wildcats.

Although they eventually pulled out a 10-point victory over UMKC, the Wildcats had some trouble. They allowed the Kangaroos to shoot 53.3 percent from the field in the first half, and they trailed, 40-36, at intermission. Things changed in the second half, with Kansas State draining 68.2 percent from the floor, while the Kangaroos cooled to 39.1 percent.

Thomas Gipson nearly had a double-double to pace the Wildcats in the win, as he had nine rebounds to go with a game-high 21 points. Foster was one of three other double-digit scorers in the contest, netting 16 points to go with four assists. Justin Edwards pitched in with 15 points and Nigel Johnson added a dozen off the bench. Jevon Thomas only scored four points, but he dished out nine assists. Such widespread scoring has been customary for the Wildcats early on, as Gipson (19 ppg, 7.5 rpg) leads five players in double figures. Johnson (15 ppg), Foster (14.5 ppg), Edwards (13 ppg) and Stephen Hurt (10 ppg) are the others.

Despite out-shooting Xavier 54.7 percent to 53 percent, Long Beach State still found itself on the wrong end of a 23-point decision. The difference was a result of Xavier's hot shooting from beyond the arc and the 49ers' inability to hold on to the ball. The Musketeers had a 39-18 edge in points from beyond the arc, while scoring 25 points off of 15 Long Beach State turnovers. The 49ers only forced seven turnovers in return.

Mike Caffey did all he could to keep LBSU in the game with Xavier, finishing with 20 points, which tied with Xavier's Trevon Bluiett for a game-high. Caffey has easily been the best scorer on the team for the 49ers, averaging 19.7 points per game on 57.9 percent shooting. He also has made 57.1 percent of his 3-point attempts, while averaging 4.7 assists and three steals per game. Tyler Lamb (17 ppg), McKay LaSalle (11.3 pg) and David Samuels (10 ppg) are all averaging in double figures as well, but not a single player is bringing in more than five rebounds per game.

The 49ers went 9-4 at Walter Pyramid last season, so expect a tough test for Kansas State. However, the Wildcats' throng of scorers and their ability to crash the boards will be the key to picking up a solid road win.