NIT Tournament Heats Up: Tulsa and Latest Mexico Advance to Semifinals
The National Invitation Tournament (NIT) is down to the final four, with Tulsa and New Mexico securing their spots in the semifinals following victories on Tuesday, March 25, 2026. The semifinals are scheduled for April 2 at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Tulsa and New Mexico Dominate
No. 1 seed Tulsa defeated Wichita State 83-79, fueled by a standout performance from guard Tylen Riley, who finished with 21 points, six rebounds, and six assists. CBS Sports reports this was a hard-fought victory for the Golden Hurricane.
Similarly, No. 1 seed New Mexico advanced with an 84-69 win over Saint Joseph’s, led by Tomislav Bulijan’s impressive 27-point performance. CBS Sports highlighted New Mexico’s strong offensive showing.
Upcoming Quarterfinal and Semifinal Matchups
Wednesday, March 25, will feature the remaining quarterfinal matchups: No. 1 Auburn will host No. 2 Nevada, and No. 2 Dayton will face No. 4 Illinois State. Both games will be broadcast on ESPN2.
Following the quarterfinals, the semifinal matchups are set: Tulsa will face New Mexico on April 2 at Hinkle Fieldhouse. The remaining semifinal pairing will be determined by the outcomes of Wednesday’s games. CBS Sports provides the full schedule.
Auburn’s NIT Journey
Auburn, the sole remaining high-major team in the NIT, is aiming for its first semifinal appearance since 2009, when they lost to Baylor in the quarterfinals. CBS Sports notes the significance of Auburn’s run in the tournament.
Power Conference Representation
Only four Power Conference teams remain in the NIT: Auburn, Cal, Wake Forest, and Oklahoma State. Several programs, including Seton Hall, Virginia Tech, Belmont, and San Diego State, declined invitations to the tournament after being excluded from the NCAA Tournament. CBS Sports reported on the declining invitations.
NIT Schedule
- Quarterfinals (March 24):
- No. 1 Tulsa 83, No. 3 Wichita State 79
- No. 1 New Mexico 84, Saint Joseph’s 69
- Quarterfinals (March 25):
- No. 2 Dayton vs. No. 4 Illinois State, 7 p.m. ET | ESPN2
- No. 1 Auburn vs. No. 2 Nevada, 9 p.m. ET | ESPN2
- Semifinals (April 2): Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis
- No. 1 Tulsa vs. No. 1 New Mexico, TBD | ESPN
- TBD vs. TBD
- Championship (April 5): Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis
- Semifinal winners | 8 p.m. ET | ESPN2
The NIT semifinals promise exciting matchups as teams battle for a chance to compete for the championship title on April 5.