Omaha, NE -- (Sports Network) - Freshman sensation Michael Beasley posted game- highs with 23 points and 11 rebounds as Kansas State used a late surge to discard Southern California, 80-67, in opening round action of the NCAA Tournament in the Midwest Region.

Bill Walker added 22 points for the 11-seed Wildcats (21-11), who made their first trip to the tourney since 1996 and advance to play Wisconsin in the second round on Saturday.

Jacob Pullen had 11 points and dished out five assists, while Ron Anderson poured in 10 points and pulled down eight boards for Kansas State, which shot 51.7 percent (15-of-29) from the field in the second half.

"Just unbelievable for our guys to be able to beat a team like Southern Cal, a team that I'm telling you I must have watched 15 of their games over the past three days," said Kansas State head coach Frank Martin. "That's what the Big 12 does for you, playing Kansas, playing Texas, playing schools of that nature, that kind of a basketball game against that kind of a basketball team, you know, assisted us in preparing us to come in here and succeed."

O.J. Mayo scored 20 points for the sixth-seeded Trojans (21-12). Davon Jefferson contributed 15 points and Taj Gibson had 10 points and a team-best nine rebounds.

A Mayo three followed by a Jefferson slam brought USC within 42-38 with four minutes gone in the second half. Beasley powered his way to another three- point play to put the Wildcats up by seven, but the Trojans responded with a 10-2 run to go up 48-47 after Mayo finished off a three-point play of his own with 13:07 to play.

Momentum swung back in the Wildcats' favor, and Beasley's three-point play capped a 7-2 run to put K-State up 54-50. A Dwight Lewis trey from the left corner brought USC within one, but the Trojans went cold from there, allowing Kansas State to increase its lead to 61-53 with 8:49 remaining in regulation on a Darren Kent tip-in.

"The man-to-man defense was aggressive," said Mayo. "They got us out of the flow of our offense. Maybe certain shots we took were rushed, and give credit to Kansas State. They did a great job on the defensive end."

Beasley then put a dagger in the Trojans' hearts when he buried a three from the right corner with 3:27 to play which made it 72-60 and the Wildcats cruised to the buzzer.

"We're close to home. A lot of fans made the drive out here," Beasley noted. "It just made it feel like a home game. They were all chanting our name. It just felt good to know we have people behind our back."

The Wildcats rolled to an 8-3 lead to start the contest then extended the advantage to nine, 21-12, after a three-point play from Walker just after the midway point of the half. Beasley picked up a pair of fouls within the first five minutes and went to the bench, but Walker was able to be a force in the paint in his absence.

USC managed to cut its deficit to six when Gibson made one-of-two from the line with a little more than seven minutes to play, but he eventually sat with three personals and four minutes remaining.

K-State went up by as much as 10 points on several occasions, the last time when Beasley again finished off a three-point play for a 37-27 game with 1:06 left. Lewis misfired on a three as time wound down, and the Wildcats went to the break with a comfortable lead.

Game Notes

It was the Wildcats' first NCAA win since 1988...K-State has won four of the five all-time meetings...Walker scored 17 first-half points to lead all players...Beasley recorded his 27th double-double of the season...Mayo led USC with five assists...The Wildcats owned the glass, 44-27.