The 2026 National Invitation Tournament (NIT) is nearing its conclusion as the semifinals approach. Two teams have already secured their spots: New Mexico and Tulsa. The Lobos advanced after a strong performance from Tomislav Buljan, who scored a career-high 27 points along with 11 rebounds, leading New Mexico to an 84-69 victory over Saint Joseph”s. This marks their first trip to the NIT semifinals since 1990.
Tulsa also made their way into the semifinals by defeating No. 3 seed Wichita State with a final score of 83-79. This is the third time in program history that the Golden Hurricane has reached this stage of the tournament.
The remaining two semifinal spots will be filled on Wednesday, March 25. The first game features No. 2 seed Dayton going up against No. 4 seed Illinois State at UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio, starting at 7 PM ET. Following that matchup, No. 1 seed Auburn will face No. 2 seed Nevada at Neville Arena at 9 PM ET.
As it stands, the finalized semifinal matchups for the NIT are as follows:
- Albuquerque Region: No. 1 New Mexico
- Tulsa Region: No. 1 Tulsa
- Winston-Salem Region: Winner of No. 2 Dayton vs. No. 4 Illinois State
- Auburn Region: Winner of No. 1 Auburn vs. No. 2 Nevada
The NIT semifinals are set to take place on Thursday, April 2, at the historic Hinkle Fieldhouse, home of the Butler Bulldogs. The tournament will then culminate in a championship game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
The complete semifinal schedule is as follows (all times Eastern):
- Thursday, April 2 – No. 1 New Mexico vs. No. 1 Tulsa at 7 PM on ESPN
- Thursday, April 2 – Winner of No. 1 Auburn vs. No. 2 Nevada vs. Winner of No. 2 Dayton vs. No. 4 Illinois State at 9:30 PM on ESPN
This year”s NIT has showcased intense competition, and fans can look forward to thrilling matchups as teams vie for the championship title.
