JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — LSU knows that Will Wade is watching. The team believes that Wayde Sims is, too.

When “44” hits the scoreboard, the Tigers flash Sims’ number with their hands. Their former teammate is always near. His tragic death will not keep him from the Sweet 16.

“He’s always with us. Obviously, we lost a brother,” guard Tremont Waters said following his last-second shot Saturday to beat Maryland in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. “We understand that he’s always with us. Our score was 44 at one point and we all stopped in the huddle, looked up at the scoreboard and just said, ‘Forty-four’ in the huddle. We just knew we had to get this one for him.”

The Tigers’ best season in 13 years began with unimaginable pain.

Sims, a junior forward, whose father, Wayne, also played at LSU and was a teammate of Shaquille O’Neal, was at a party near the campus of Southern University on Sept. 28. It was shortly after midnight. An argument started. A fight followed. Sims intervened to defend a friend. He was shot in the head. He was 20 years old.

Wade “got the call that you never want to get,” and the now-suspended coach passed along the news you never want to share. It was 6:30 a.m. The Tigers arrived for their first official workout, and learned that Sims was gone. Skylar Mays learned he lost his best friend.

“He’s with us every day. He’s the driving force,” Mays said Saturday. “We always try to bring attention to him. Wayde is who this is all about and the Sims family and everybody supporting us.

“He’s still a part of our team. He’ll always be a part of our team.”

Wayde was just as beloved when he was here. The 6-foot-6 sixth man was vital to chemistry on and off the court, constantly cracking up teammates with his outgoing nature, and making the game easier with his selfless style.

Mays and Sims grew up together in Baton Rouge, spending the better part of their 15-year friendship discussing what life would be like together at LSU.

Playing with No. 44 stitched on his jersey, and written on his sneakers, Mays scored eight of LSU’s final 12 points Saturday, hitting the game-tying free throws with 1:13 remaining, before drilling a deep tie-breaking 3-pointer with 40 seconds left.

“I got emotional after the game just thinking about him,” Mays said. “It’s tough. All I can think about is my fallen brother, Wayde, and how he’s with us and that this is all for him.

“I think about him all the time. I just know he’s with me and he’s the reason we’re doing special things.”

Even after Mays’ shots, the third-seeded SEC champs were on the ropes. A 15-point second-half lead against the Terrapins had vanished. Overtime was near.

Then, the 5-foot-11 Waters drove at the 6-10 Jalen Smith, and flipped an underhand scoop shot with 6-10 Bruno Fernando approaching.

When it fell, 1.6 seconds were left on the clock. When it fell, LSU’s entire roster shared the same thought.

“Wayde Sims made the ball go in,” Waters said.

Before leaving the floor — and returning home to prepare for a regional semifinal matchup with No. 2 Michigan State — LSU coaches and players chanted “Forty-four.”

They believe Sims heard. They believe he saw.

“I know Wayde is watching over us,” said interim coach Tony Benford.