Moore, Russell lead SMU past LSU 80-67 to reach NIT third round

SMU Mustangs center Cannen Cunningham (15) dunks on LSU Tigers forward Jordan Mickey (25) in the first half of NIT Men's Basketball Tournament Second Round action at Moody Coliseum in University Park, Texas on Monday, March 24, 2014. (AP Photo/The Dallas Morning News, Brad Loper ) MANDATORY CREDIT; MAGS OUT; TV OUT; INTERNET USE BY AP MEMBERS ONLY; NO SALES (The Associated Press)

LSU forward Jordan Mickey (25) and SMU forward Ben Moore (34) fight for a rebound during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the second round of the NIT Monday, March 24, 2014, in Dallas, Texas. (AP Photo/Sharon Ellman) (The Associated Press)

Nic Moore and Nick Russell each scored 16 points as SMU rallied from a 10-point first-half deficit to defeat LSU 80-67 on Monday night to advance to the third round of the NIT.

The Mustangs (25-9), seeded first in their region, will host the winner of Monday night's late game between No. 2 Arkansas and No. 3 California on Wednesday.

LSU (20-14), seeded fifth, finished with its most wins since 2008-09. The Tigers were led by Johnny O'Bryant III with 16 points.

An alley-oop pass from Anthony Hickey to Jarell Martin gave the Tigers a 38-28 lead with 3:35 to play in the first half. SMU closed the gap to 40-35 at halftime, and then went on a 26-9 run over the first 8½ minutes of the second half to put the game away.