NIT ROUNDUP : Slater Scores 27 Points to Lead Wyoming Over Butler

Reginald Slater scored 27 points to lead Wyoming to a 63-61 victory over Butler Friday night at Laramie, Wyo., in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament.

Slater hit key free throws with 62 seconds left and again with 22 seconds left to hold off Butler, which was 6-22 last season but finished 18-11 this season.

A Wyoming turnover allowed the Bulldogs to get possession with eight seconds left, but an errant pass by Butler allowed Wyoming to run out the clock.

The Cowboys (20-11) face Colorado in a second-round game Monday.

West Virginia 86, Furman 67--The Mountaineers, after leading 42-41 at halftime, opened the second half with a 19-8 run to pull away from the Paladins in a first-round game at Morgantown, W.Va.

Chris Leonard scored 23 points to lead West Virginia (17-13). Chris Brooks, who had 12 rebounds, and Jeremy Bodkin, who had 10, helped the Mountaineers dominate inside.

Furman ended its season at 20-9. The Mountaineers will play at Providence (18-12) Monday.

Massachusetts 93, LaSalle 90--Harper Williams scored 22 points and Jim McCoy had 19 to lead the Minutemen (18-11) to a first-round victory over the Explorers (19-10) at Amherst, Mass.

Massachusetts will face Fordam (25-7) Tuesday.

South Carolina 69, George Washington 63--Jo Jo English scored 26 points as the Gamecocks, who lost seven of their last eight games, rebounded to beat the Colonials in a first-round game at Columbia, S.C.

South Carolina (20-12) advances to a second-round game against Siena (24-9) Tuesday. George Washington, making its first postseason appearance in 30 years, ends the season 19-12.