The LSU men's basketball season ended Tuesday night after losing to North Texas 84-77 in the first round of the NIT. 

The Tigers were neutralized in the paint by the Mean Green's physicality and were outscored 36-30 in the paint.

LSU led 17-11 through the first half of the first half but North Texas started knocking down three-pointers to wrestle the lead away at 17-17 and then the Mean Green never trailed again in the contest.

LSU was led by Jordan Wright with 25 points and Trae Hannibal with 15 points, Hunter Dean was the only other Tiger in double-figures with 11 points.

Wright helped spark a Tiger comeback when trailing by 18 midway through the second half as he got hot from the perimeter and pulled the Tigers to within five points with less than two minutes to play.

The game was a rematch from earlier in the season when LSU defeated North Texas 66-62 in the Charleston Classic. Will Baker led the way for the Tigers in that game with 16 points.

The last time LSU played in the NIT was in 2018 when they advanced to the second round. North Texas is the defending NIT champion. 

UNT will play the winner of Seton Hall and Saint Joseph's on either Saturday or Sunday.