PULLMAN, Wash., March 17 (UPI) -- Klay Thompson scored 25 points Wednesday in helping Washington State fight off Long Beach State 85-74 in the final opening-round game of the NIT.
The Cougars led by 16 at halftime and went on to get a win and advance to a second-round matchup with Oklahoma State.
Faisal Aden added 19 points and DeAngelo Casto had 14 for the Cougars (19-12), who finished sixth in the Pacific-10 Conference regular-season race and lost to eventual champion Washington in the quarterfinals of the league tournament.
California also was a winner Wednesday, giving the Pac-10 two teams in the NIT's second round.
Long Beach State captured the Big West regular-season title, but lost to California-Santa Barbara in the conference finals.
The 49ers (22-11) were led by T.J. Robinson with 16 points.
