Final Score: Wyoming 78, North Dakota State 75

Laramie, WY (Sports Network) - Leonard Washington scored 22 points and brought down 11 rebounds for the Wyoming Cowboys who took down the North Dakota State Bison 78-75 in the first round of the College Basketball Invitational at Arena Auditorium.

Francisco Cruz added 14 points and Adam Waddell chipped in 13 for Wyoming (21-11) which will take on Washington State in the second round. Luke Martinez grabbed 10 rebounds and was a point shy of his own double-double for the Cowboys.

TrayVonn Wright scored 15 points to lead five players in double figures for North Dakota State (18-13). Marshall Bjorklund added 14, Taylor Braun put in 13, Lawrence Alexander had 12 and Mike Felt chipped in 10 off the bench to round out the Bison's double-digit scorers.

Both teams shot well on the way to a 37-37 deadlock at the end of the first half. Wyoming converted on 55.0 percent of its shots while North Dakota State hit 51.7 percent and made up the difference with a 4-for-9 effort from beyond the arc.

The Cowboys led by just two, 72-70, with a little over a minute to play but Washington put in a contested layup and the ensuing free throw to put Wyoming ahead 75-70 with 19 seconds left on the clock. The Cowboys then went 3-for-4 from the three point line and stopped the Bison from getting off a desperation shot at the end of regulation to secure the win.

Wyoming outscored North Dakota State 29-14 from the free throw line in the game and held a 34-28 edge on the boards.

03/15 00:32:11 ET