[Information provided by: Louisiana Tech Athletics]
After a remarkable season that resulted in a 26-6 record and a Western Athletic Conference regular season championship, Louisiana Tech will participate in the 76th edition of the National Invitation Tournament as the Bulldogs will travel to face Florida State in Tallahassee on Tuesday at 6:15 p.m. CT in game that will be streamed on ESPN3.
"Although we are extremely disappointed to not be playing in the NCAA Tournament, we are excited that we still have an opportunity to play another game and lengthen our season," said head coach Michael White, whose program will compete in the NIT for the first time since 2006. "Any alternative postseason is an accomplishment, especially the prestigious NIT. We plan on making the most of our opportunity."
The NIT consists of 32 teams as the Bulldogs received a No. 5 seed and will be in the same bracket as No. 1 Southern Miss, No. 2 Tennessee, No. 3 BYU, No. 4 Florida State, No. 6 Washington, No. 7 Mercer and No. 8 Charleston Southern.
LA Tech earned the automatic bid into the NIT having finished first in the Western Athletic Conference regular season with a 16-2 mark.
The Bulldogs posted an 18-game winning streak, the second longest streak during the 2012-13 season in NCAA Division I, en route to a Top 25 ranking and the program's first No. 1 seed in the WAC Tournament before falling to No. 9 seed UTSA 73-67 in a quarterfinal matchup.
LA Tech earned an NIT berth as New Mexico State received an NCAA Tournament bid with its win in the conference tournament. Denver also earned an NIT bid out of the WAC.
The NIT appearance marks the seventh time that the Bulldogs have participated in the post-season tournament, with LA Tech's best showing coming in 1986 when it advanced to the Final Four at Madison Square Garden earning a third place finish.
The ‘Dogs are 7-6 all-time in NIT games, the most recent contest being a first round defeat at Clemson, 69-53.
Florida State is 18-15 on the season as the Seminoles finished in sixth place with a 9-9 record in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Tickets for the Bulldogs first round NIT game can be purchased by calling the Tech Ticket Office at 318-257-3631 starting at 10 a.m. Monday morning.
