Washington State had just enough to edge Montana State.

Jeff Tuel threw two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter and Nico Grasu kicked the winning field goal with 2:13 to play to lead Washington State to a 23-22 victory over Montana State on Saturday.

The Cougars (1-1) trailed 22-7 entering the fourth quarter and that is when Tuel and the Washington State defense got going.

Tuel threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Andrei Lintz to start the fourth and connected with Jared Karstetter for a 19-yard scoring strike to make it 22-20 with 5:12 to go.

The Cougars went for two but did not convert, and the Bobcats maintained their slim lead.

Montana State (1-1) drove deep into Washington State territory on its next possession, before the Cougars stiffened and turned the Bobcats over on downs.

Tuel, who completed 18-of-29 passes for 204 yards, then led the Cougars down the field to set up Grasu for the winning kick.

Washington State was not out of the woods and needed an interception by C.J. Mizell to thwart another late Montana State scoring threat.

Montana State took a 6-0 lead in the first quarter on a pair of field goals by Jason Cunningham. The Bobcats led 13-7 at the half, thanks to 13-yard touchdown pass by Denarius McGhee in the second quarter.

McGhee was 24-of-37 for 266 yards