Auburn Advances to NIT Semifinals, Defeating Nevada 75-69
Auburn University’s men’s basketball team secured a spot in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) semifinals with a 75-69 victory over the Nevada Wolf Pack on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at Neville Arena in Auburn, Alabama. This win marks the first time the Tigers have reached the NIT semifinals.
Key Performances
Filip Jovic led Auburn with 18 points and nine rebounds, shooting 9 of 12 from the field. Tahaad Pettiford contributed 16 points and a game-high six assists. Elyjah Freeman scored 15 points, playing all 40 minutes, while Keyshawn Hall added 14 points and six rebounds.
Game Highlights
Auburn established a 12-point lead in the first half and extended it to 15 points early in the second half with dunks from Jovic. Nevada attempted a comeback, narrowing the gap to eight points with 7:15 remaining, but Auburn responded with a reverse layup by Hall and a three-point play by Pettiford to regain a 13-point advantage.
Coach Pearl’s Comments
Auburn coach Steven Pearl praised his team’s defensive performance and their ability to capitalize on the NIT opportunity. “Defensively, for the first 30 minutes, we did a lot of good things and made a lot of improvement,” Pearl said. “A lot of contributions. It’s not the tournament we want to be playing but our guys have done a great job of using this platform and this opportunity to travel out there and hoop. I’m really proud of them for that and it’s something we can build on.”
Looking Ahead
Auburn (20-16) will travel to Indianapolis, Indiana, to face Illinois State in the NIT semifinals on Thursday, April 2, at Hinkle Fieldhouse. This will be the first meeting between the two teams. The Tigers have now achieved five consecutive 20-win seasons.
Game Statistics
- Auburn: 75 points, 49% field goal percentage (30-61), 25% three-point percentage (6-24), 71% free throw percentage (12-17)
- Nevada: 69 points, 46% field goal percentage (25-54), 35% three-point percentage (7-20), 64% free throw percentage (9-14)
Source: AuburnTigers.com, ESPN, Auburn Wire, AL.com