The stage is set for the NIT championship game, and two teams remain in the hunt for the postseason title. Top seeds Auburn and Tulsa will battle it out for the NIT title at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Friday’s Final Four matches saw Auburn defeat Illinois State, while Tulsa beat New Mexico State to qualify for the championship game.
When Will the 2026 NIT Championship Game Be Played?
The National Invitation Tournament (NIT) offers teams not competing in the men’s NCAA Tournament the chance to play postseason basketball and stay in the trophy hunt. The tournament follows a win-or-go-home format with a 32-team bracket.
Only two teams remain in the hunt for the NIT title, with the Tulsa Golden Hurricane and Auburn Tigers set to battle it out in the national championship game.
The NIT championship game will take place on Sunday, April 5, with tip-off at 8 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN. Fans can also watch the live coverage online by subscribing to fuboTV or YouTube TV.
The Tulsa Golden Hurricane are two-time NIT champions, having won the title in 1981 and 2001. The Auburn Tigers will compete in their first-ever NIT championship game after reaching the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament last year.
Tulsa powered into the championship with a 74-69 win over the New Mexico Lobos. Tylen Riley came up clutch for the Golden Hurricane, scoring 9 of his team’s final 15 points. He also had 6 rebounds and 5 assists to his name. Forward David Green also impressed with 13 points and 5 rebounds.
In the other Final Four game, the Auburn Tigers cruised to an 88-66 win over the Illinois State Redbirds. Keyshawn Hall was the star of the show for the Tigers with 24 points on 10-of-16 shooting from the field. The senior forward also led the way with 6 rebounds and 3 assists.
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The Tigers haven’t been able to reach the highs of last year’s run to the NCAA Tournament’s Final Four. But they have showcased their dominance on the NIT stage after missing out on the NCAA Tournament.
Tulsa has enjoyed a 30-7 season and finished third in the American Conference. But overcoming a power-conference team with Auburn’s experience could be a tough task. The key for Tulsa could well be to stop Hall in his tracks. He is averaging 19.5 points and 6.9 rebounds per game this season.
