Auburn captures first NIT Championship with win over Tulsa originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Auburn looked like a team on a mission in the first half of the NIT championship game, with their lead growing to as much as 21 points. They bested Tulsa in every statistical category across the board and looked like they were running away with the game.
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The second half told a different story as Tulsa exploded on multiple runs, outscoring Auburn 47-30 overall and even taking the lead with just over 10 minutes remaining in the game. The game was forced to overtime on a Kevin Overton 3-pointer for Auburn to tie the game with eight seconds remaining.
Auburn took care of business in overtime 14-8, and won the game 92-86. Overton (26 points) and Tahaad Pettiford (24 points) led the way for the Tigers to capture their first NIT championship in program history.
David Green (25 points), Tylen Riley (20 points), and Ade Popoola (13 points) led the way for Tulsa combining for 58 points.
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Tip-off: 8 p.m. ET
|
2026 NIT Championship Game |
1st Half |
2nd Half |
OT |
Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
No. 1 Tulsa Golden Hurricanes |
31 |
47 |
8 |
86 |
|
No. 1 Auburn Tigers |
48 |
30 |
14 |
92 |
Tulsa vs. Auburn live updates, highlights from 2026 NIT Championship game
Overtime
0.0 Auburn wins game 92-86
0:11 Elyjah Freeman shoots 2-2 from the free throw line.
0:49 Kevin Overton fouled on layup. Makes 1-2 free throws.
1:04 Miles Barnstable makes tip in layup. Auburn up 3. Tulsa Timeout.
2:06 Kevin Overton hits 27 foot 3 pointer
Tahaad Pettiford and Tylen Riley exchange baskets. Game tied at 82.
2nd half
0.0 Game heads to overtime
0:08 Kevin Overton 3 pointer to tie
0:08 Five second violation on Tulsa
0:08 Elyjah Freeman is fouled and going 1-1 from the line. Tulsa leads 78-75
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0:44 Tahaad Pettiford 3-pointer
1:05 Ade Popoola hits a 3-pointer giving Tulsa their largest lead of the game 76-71.
2:28 Tie game at 71-71
Tulsa has missed 8 of their last 9 field goals
4:15 Auburn retakes the lead on a Kevin Overton 3-pointer. Official TV Timeout.
7:44 Official TV Timeout
Tulsa is shooting 4-6 from three while Auburn is 1-5.
10:26 Tylen Riley sinks both free throws to give Tulsa their first lead of the game.
David Green evens up the game going 2-2 from the free throw line
11:14 Miles Barnstable hits a 3-pointer. Auburn lead cut down to 2 points.
11:53 David Green hits a 3-pointer (21 points) to bring the deficit to 5 points.
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12:55 Auburn calls TIMEOUT following a 10-0 run from Tulsa to bring the deficit to 8 points.
14:06 Tulsa is on a 10-2 run capped off by David green getting fouled and one. Auburn up 12.
16:06 Ade Popoola hits a 3 pointer to cut the Auburn lead to 16
Auburn picks up where they left off with seven points in the first three minutes of the half
Halftime update:
It was all Auburn in the first half of the NIT championship as they lead over Tulsa by 17 points. Tahaad Pettiford and Kevin Overton combined for 29 points to lead all scorers. Auburn is shooting 52% from the field and 46% from deep, while Tulsa has had the lid on the basket all first half, shooting just 38% overall and 1-10 from three point range. Auburn has the advantage over Tulsa in rebounds (19-11), assists (8-3), steals (5-2), and blocks (2-1). Their largest lead of the game was 21 points.
1st half
Auburn finishes the first half up 17 points. Tahaad Pettiford (15 points) and Kevin Overton (14 points) are the teams highest scorers.
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2:38 Tulsa has made 6 of their last 7 shots
Since Tulsa’s 2-15 shooting start, they’ve since gone 4-4
7:19 Jaylen Lawal makes the first three pointer of the game for Tulsa, bringing their outside shooting to 1-9
8:14 Auburn’s lead opens up to 20 with Kevin Overton sinking two free throws
Tulsa is now shooting 2-13 (0-7 from three)
11:53 Official TV timeout comes in the midst of an 11-1 Auburn run.
Tulsa is now 0-6 from three to start the game.
13:55 Auburns run to start the game extends 16-4 with four of five starters scoring
Tahaad Pettiford and Filip Jovic lead Auburn to a 9-2 run to start the game.
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20:00 Auburn wins the tip and Tahaad Pettiford is fouled on the first three point shot of the game.
Pre-game notes:
The NIT championship is set between Auburn and Tulsa who could’ve both been argued as NCAA Tournament teams leading up to selection Sunday as they both consistently sat on the bubble.
Coming into the title game, Tulsa has had close call after close call with three of their four wins coming within five points. On the other end, Auburn is coming off of a lopsided win against Illinois State in the semifinal 88-66.
Tulsa has played one Power Conference team all season in Kansas State and came away with a loss. Auburn is 10-0 against non-Power Conference teams.
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Auburn and Tulsa met previously in the 2009 NIT tournament, where the Tigers came out with a 74-55 victory. Auburn was the highest-seeded team in that tournament as well.
Auburn notes:
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Auburn has not lost a mid-major team all year (10-0)
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332-287 (+45) scoring margin during NIT run
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8-6 record over seven NIT appearances (last appered in 2009)
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Highest ranked team in the NIT on KenPom (37th)
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Defeated South Alabama, Seattle, Nevada, and Illinois State to advance to NIT final
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Snapped four year streak of NCAA Tournament appearances
Tulsa notes:
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Tulsa is 0-1 against their only Power Conference opponent this season (84-83 loss to Kansas State)
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323-298 (+25) scoring margin over NIT run
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16-8 record over 11 NIT appearances (last appeared in 2015)
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56th ranked team on KenPom
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Defeated SFA, UNLV, Wichita State, and New Mexico before NIT final
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30 win season marks highest in program history
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Two time NIT champion (1981, 2001)
Starters for Tulsa and Auburn
Tulsa
Tyler Behrend
David Green
Ade Popoola
Miles Barnstable
Tylen Riley
Auburn
Filip Jovic
Keyshawn Hall
Elyjah Freeman
Kevin Overton
Tahaad Pettiford
What channel is Tulsa vs. Auburn on today
Tulsa vs. Auburn How to Watch
Date: Sunday, April 5
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Gainbridge Fieldhouse- Indianapolis, IN
TV: ESPN2 (Available on FuboTV)
