LARAMIE, Wyo. — North Dakota State brought the offense. Wyoming brought the muscle.
Leonard Washington had 22 points and 11 rebounds in leading Wyoming past a young Bison team, 78-75 in the first round of the College Basketball Invitational on Wednesday night.
The Cowboys (21-11) will play Monday night at Washington State, which beat San Francisco.
Washington was 7 of 11 from the field and 8 of 13 from the free throw line.
Francisco Cruz added 14 points, and Adam Waddell had 13 in Wyoming's first nonconference postseason victory since 2003 and first 21-win season since 2002-03.
"To get this one under our belt, and to potentially go on the road and maybe get another one and maybe run the table, who knows, that's a good feeling," Waddell said. "It goes to show how much we've grown and the character of this team."
TrayVonn Wright led NDSU (17-14) with 15 points. Marshall Bjorklund added 14, Taylor Braun 13, Lawrence Alexander 12 and Mike Felt 10.
NDSU's 75 points and 27 field goals were the most allowed by Wyoming this season. The Bison also forced 17 Wyoming turnovers.
"We scored against a team that is really hard to score against," NDSU coach Saul Phillips said.
Wyoming coach Larry Shyatt said he was disappointed in his team's defensive play and the number of turnovers.
"But I told the guys in the locker room after that game that I will never complain about a win," Shyatt said.
The Cowboys outrebounded the Bison 34-28, including 30-23 on the defensive boards.
"I can remember them missing six or seven shots the last probably 4 minutes, and the Cowboys got almost every rebound," Shyatt said.
NDSU had a chance to tie or take the lead with 50 seconds left in the game, but a jumper by Alexander missed its mark. Washington then converted a 3-point play for Wyoming with 18 seconds to go.
Wyoming made 3 of 4 foul shots in the last 4 seconds to secure the win.
The Bison, who started four sophomores and one freshman, were whistled for 28 fouls and had two players, including Bjorklund, foul out.
"What you saw out there is a junior college team eligibility-wise, and they are good and they will be heard from again," Phillips said.