PULLMAN, Wash. (AP) Thomas Kelati scored 12 points Friday night to lead cold-shooting Washington State to a 59-42 victory over Montana State.
Branden Miller led Montana State with 12 points in the nonconference season opener for both teams.
Washington State led 43-26 at halftime after shooting 51 percent from the field, but the Cougars shot just 21 percent in the second half. WSU shot 39 percent for the game, compared with 36 percent for Montana State.
The Cougars missed their first nine shots in the second half, and 16 of 17 in the first 14 minutes of the half. The Bobcats also struggled with their shooting in the second half and outscored WSU only 10-6 in the first 14 minutes of the half. Each team scored just 16 points in the second half.
Kelati, WSU's top returning scorer, wound up 4-for-11 after hitting his first three 3-pointers in the first 4:05 of the game. The Cougars played without three potential starters due to injuries. Freshman Daven Harmeling came off the bench to score 10 points.
Montana State finished with 22 turnovers. The Bobcats played without starting center Al Beye, who suffered a knee injury at practice Tuesday.
The game was the first between Washington State and Montana State since 1982. The Bobcats have lost six in a row to WSU since last winning in 1972.
