Bulldogs, Rebels to meet in NIT

RUSTON, La. – Postseason play is back for Louisiana Tech as the Bulldogs open the National Invitation Tournament on Friday night at 8 p.m. against Mississippi inside the Comerica Center.

The matchup will be nationally televised on ESPN2.

Louisiana Tech (21-7) was one of 16 teams to earn an at-large berth into the 2021 NIT, making its return to the tournament for the first time since 2015.

This marks the 10th time the Bulldogs have taken part in this event. The team is 12-9 all time, reaching the NIT Final Four in their first-ever appearance in 1986. In their last two appearances in 2014 and 2015, the Bulldogs advanced to the quarterfinals.

Louisiana Tech, the No. 4 seed, was just in Frisco for the Conference USA Tournament, defeating Florida Atlantic in the quarterfinals before falling to eventual champion North Texas in the semis 54-48.

Mississippi (16-11) was one of the first four teams out of the NCAA Tournament. The Rebels, a No. 1 seed, got hot late in the season, winning seven of their last nine regular season games. After beating South Carolina in the second round of the SEC Tournament, Mississippi fell 76-73 to LSU in the quarterfinals. The Rebels ranked second in the SEC and 28th in the country in scoring defense, allowing teams to average just 63.4 points per game.

Devontae Shuler anchors Mississippi with 15.3 points and 3.3 assists per game. The senior guard was named First Team All-SEC, registering eight 20-point scoring performances.

Friday will mark the 12th meeting between Louisiana Tech and Mississippi on the hardwood. The Rebels lead 8-3, winning five straight in the series. The last meeting came in 2015.