PRESEASON NIT ROUNDUP : Cal Grounds Dudley, Air Force; LSU, N.C. State Also Advance

Keith Smith scored 18 points as California breezed past Air Force, 70-49, in a first-round preseason National Invitation Tournament game Wednesday night at Berkeley.

In other games, Chris Jackson scored 37 points as second-ranked LSU downed Southern Mississippi, 91-80; No. 19 North Carolina State beat Richmond 57-48; Kansas routed Alabama Birmingham, 109-83, and DePaul defeated Ohio State, 71-53.

Cal took a 35-24 halftime lead after Ryan Drew hit three consecutive three-pointers to give the Bears a 13-6 lead. Cal hit seven three-pointers and made 70% of its shots in the first half.

Raymond Dudley of Air Force was held to 11 points, seven below his low game last season, and suffered a thigh injury midway in the second half.

Dudley, who averaged 26.6 points a game last year, failed to lead the Falcons in scoring for the first time in two seasons. Chris Lowry had 18 points for Air Force.

Drew and Bill Elleby each had 11 for Cal, and Brian Hendrick had 10.