Washington holds off Boise State 77-74 in 1st round of NIT

Associated Press

SEATTLE (AP) — Jaylen Nowell scored 25 points, Matisse Thybulle added 18 — each scoring 14 in the second half — and Washington held off Boise State 77-74 on Wednesday night in the first round of the NIT.

The Huskies (21-12) will play Saint Mary’s (29-5) in the second round.

Thybulle, a junior who is already Washington’s career steals leader, moved into third — behind Jason Kidd and Gary Payton — on the Pac-12’s single-season list with 97.

The Huskies led by as many as 17 in the first half and a dunk by Thybulle gave them a 45-29 lead five minutes into the second half, but Boise State (23-9) scored the final 10 third-quarter points to pull within three. Nowell hit six free throws in an 11-5 spurt that pushed the lead to 75-65 with 44 seconds left.

Chandler Hutchison scored the Broncos’ final seven points in a 9-2 run and a tie-up on a Washington inbounds pass gave Boise State possession, trailing 77-74 with three seconds left. Lexus Williams’ potential tying 3-point attempt was blocked and his second 3 was off as time expired.

Hutchison finished with 39 points and 14 rebounds, and Chris Sengfelder added 15 and 14 for Boise State.