In a bitter, in-state matchup between LSU and UL-Lafayette, it was the Tigers who advanced to the second round of the NIT with a 84-76 victory.
The NIT implemented four new rules for a trial run. The tournament is experimenting with 10 minute quarters instead of the traditional two 20 minute halves.  The gritty battle between the two teams had everything a basketball fan could ask for with both crowds playing a key role in energy as the game went back-and-forth.
With a nine point advantage with five minutes to go, LSU had its chance to pounce.  After three blocks in a 25 second span, a transition layup from freshman guard Tremont Waters put the LSU lead into double digits at 72-61.  
ULL had one more stride left in them, going on a 11-1 run and cut the lead to one point.  
After two Waters free throws, junior guard Daryl Edwards made the play of the night with a steal on the potential game tying possession.
Things got chippy in the final few seconds of the game. With the game firmly in hand, LSU coach Will Wade called a timeout and yelled towards ULL head coach Bob Marlin.  
Typically in that situation, a timeout would not be necessary.
Marlin took exception and proceeded to walk towards Wade, shouting angrily forcing him to be restrained.
“Since they don’t get to play us very often, I thought they should sit there and enjoy the opportunity to play us,” Wade said. “We’re about action, not talk here.”
But it didn’t stop there.
Things initially heated up between the teams long before tip-off on Wednesday night.
Marlin made comments earlier this week, stating ULL should had hosted the game and took a shot at the program saying LSU was scared to play them.
“We’re not scared, period,” Wade said. “We’re not scared. Let me explain this. They had a higher RPI then we did. They also played the 213th strength of schedule. We had the 54th rated strength of schedule. Twenty-four of their 25 wins were against quadrant three and four teams including an 18 point loss to Ole Miss who finished last in our conference. The RPI doesn’t count against wins over Xavier of New Orleans and Louisiana College.”
With tensions and emotions running high, the Cajuns came out with a 7-0 run to start the game as the Tigers struggled to get anything going offensively for the first two minutes of the first quarter.
LSU relied on its two big men early with seniors Duop Reath and Aaron Epps scoring the first six points for the Tigers. Reath finished the game with 26 points and 11 rebounds.
Sophomore guard Skylar Mays didn’t start the game but stole the show in the first quarter with a steal and a dunk that tied the game at 10.  
LSU would end the first quarter on a 16-5 run and take a 18-15 advantage led by Mays’ inspiring play.
The Tigers had to survive most of the second quarter without freshman point guard Tremont Waters after picking up his second foul a minute into the quarter. Mays would continue to carry the load, picking and popping to his teammates leading to easy buckets for sophomore forward Wayde Sims and Epps.
“I just came in and tried to bring energy,” Mays said. “As a competitor, you can’t let somebody talk about you a certain way. We just used that as motivation.”
A big momentum swing occurred in the final minute of the second quarter with a putback slam from junior guard Brandon Sampson followed by a triple from Reath. Mays would finish with 11 points while Sampson added 18 on an efficient 5-of-9 shooting.
After the 4-for-6 start from ULL, the Cajuns went eight for their next 19 which allowed LSU to gain some distance, taking a 40-28 lead into the half.
Waters picked up his third foul late in the third with a 54-47 LSU lead, forcing him to sit the rest of the quarter. ULL would make a run with Waters on the bench, cutting the lead back to three at one point, but Reath took over late in the quarter with five straight points, giving LSU a 61-53 lead going to the final period.
LSU will travel to Salt Lake City, Utah to face No. 2 seed Utah in the second round of the NIT on Monday.