Tuesday, November 17th, 8:00 p.m. (et)

FACTS & STATS: Site: Pete Maravich Assembly Center (14,164) -- Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Television: None. Home Record: WKU 0-0, LSU 2-0. Away Record: WKU 0-0, LSU 0-0. Neutral Record: WKU 1-0, LSU 0-0. Conference Record: WKU 0-0, LSU 0-0. Series Record: LSU leads, 1-0.

GAME NOTES: Second-round action of the NIT Season Tip-Off pits the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers against the LSU Tigers in Baton Rouge.

Western Kentucky improved to 65-26 all-time in season openers with a 69-65 decision over Wisconsin-Milwaukee yesterday in the first round of this event. Playing under first-year coach Ken McDonald last year, the Hilltoppers won yet another Sun Belt Conference title and advanced in the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season. Over the years, WKU has amassed 41 conference titles, which ranks third in NCAA history, in addition to 38 seasons of 20-plus wins and 21 NCAA Tournament berths.

As for LSU, it returns just two starters from last season's outstanding team that finished 27-8 overall and 13-3 in SEC play. The Tigers opened their season on Friday with an 82-62 romp over UL-Monroe. Yesterday's clash with Indiana State was more of a defensive struggle, and the result was a 56-45 triumph for Trent Johnson and his team.

LSU recorded a 67-62 decision over Western Kentucky back in 1987, the only previous meeting between the two teams.

Western Kentucky senior guard A.J. Slaughter needed just 14 points entering the season to reach 1,000 for his career. With a career-high 30 yesterday against UW-Milwaukee, he became the 43rd member of WKU's 1,000-point club. Slaughter is the Sun Belt's Preseason Player of the Year, so his 30-point outburst against the Panthers came as little surprise. He got some help from Sergio Kerusch and Steffphon Pettigrew, as both players managed 13 points in the triumph. The Hilltoppers shot 51 percent from the floor and earned a 13-4 edge in points from the foul line. The Hilltoppers lost the 2008-09 Sun Belt Player of the Year, Orlando Mendez-Valdez, but there is still a wealth of talent in the lineup.

LSU missed all of its three-point attempts in the first half against Indiana State yesterday, and the team went on to misfire on its four attempts in the second half. For the game, the Tigers connected on 34.3 percent of their field goal attempts, including that 0-of-15 effort from behind the arc. So how did coach Johnson's team manage to win by double figures? Strong defense is the answer, as LSU held Indiana State to 30.2 percent field goal efficiency and outrebounded the Sycamores by a 50-28 margin, including 24-6 on the offensive glass. Storm Warren led the way in the win with 14 points and 12 rebounds, while Bo Spencer and Dennis Harris added 10 points apiece. Star forward Tasmin Mitchell was held to eight points, but he did pull down 14 rebounds.

Expect Mitchell to bounce back in a major way against Western Kentucky, leading the Tigers to a narrow victory over a tough opponent. The Hilltoppers will be in this one until the final buzzer.

Predicted Outcome

LSU 70, Western Kentucky 67