Not all teams can properly manage close games. 
When every possession becomes more important than the last, some teams wither away, while the others find ways to win. The LSU men’s basketball team has played in those scenarios plenty this season, mostly coming out on top. 
“It’s certainly safe to say we’ve been battle-tested,” said junior guard Keith Hornsby. 
The Tigers (16-5, 5-3 Southeastern Conference) have played 21 games this season, but only eight of those were decided by more than 10 points and with little headache. 
LSU’s 13 other games were seemingly determined by a few timely buckets, a momentum-swinging run near the end and whether the Tigers or their opponents made crunch-time mistakes. LSU has mostly survived those battles, going 8-5 in games determined by less than 10 points. 
As much as he’d like to see his team win more comfortably, sophomore forward Jordan Mickey said playing in tight ball games is a necessary evil the team must endure and overcome if it hopes to contend in March. 
“You need some close games like that to see who you can count on in the end and what they can do,” Mickey said. “These close games have helped us out, and they’ll help us more in the long run.” 
But when the games are tighter, LSU has turned up its play. In games decided by five points or less, the Tigers are 5-2. No other team in the SEC has more than four such wins, and eight have records of .500 or less. While other squads may fret in those situations, sophomore forward Jarell Martin said his team looks forward to them. 
“I feel like we’re calm because we know what we have to do to get the victory,” Martin said. “We’re not trying to put any pressure over our heads. It’s just go out there and do it. Everybody knows how important it is, so we go out and play together.” 
But there have been times this season when 40 minutes wasn’t enough for LSU and its opponents to settle things. The Tigers have played four overtime games this season, which tops the conference, and are 3-1 in those games. No other team in the league has been tested in overtime more than twice. 

However, those extra lessons in highly-contested games didn’t benefit the Tigers much during their 73-67 loss to Mississippi State on Jan. 31. 
The Tigers led the Bulldogs, 57-54, with 4:18 to go. But a quick 6-0 spurt by Mississippi State changed the game’s complexion, and battle-tested LSU couldn’t respond to the late challenge. 
Hornsby said LSU may have looked past the feisty Bulldogs, something he added can’t occur again. 
“Honestly, I feel like we might’ve [overlooked Mississippi St.] a little bit, and that just can’t happen,” Hornsby said. “Not in this league. It showed and we can’t do that, especially on the road. Hopefully, another lesson learned in that category.” 
The Tigers will have plenty of time to make up for the puzzling loss to the Bulldogs. LSU has 10 SEC games remaining in the regular season, and a paramount three-game homestand is next on the horizon. 

Every game is meaningful now, said sophomore guard Tim Quarterman, and the Tigers can’t afford to look past any team no matter the record. 
But Quarterman also said the experience he and his teammates have gained from their many close battles this season will help them as the games get tighter and more important down the stretch. 
“Down the line, it gets even harder and even rougher,” Quarterman said. “Just being in those situations where you know what to do with six seconds left on the clock or the final possession of the game. Being experienced helps, and since we’ve been in it multiple times, we have that experience when the time comes again.” 
You can reach David Gray on Twitter @dgray_TDR.