dailyloe.com – Auburn’s basketball season concludes Sunday against Tulsa in the NIT championship game. The contest tips off at 7 p.m. CT at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. It will be broadcast live on ESPN2.
The Tigers secured the NIT’s top overall seed after missing the NCAA Tournament. They lost eight of their final ten regular-season games. This ended a five-year streak of March Madness appearances.
Auburn finished the regular season with a 3-10 record in its final stretch. The team then won four consecutive NIT games. Head coach Steven Pearl praised his team’s resilience and fight.
Pearl stated that ending the season on a high note was important. He said other teams could look at Auburn’s effort as an example. The coach emphasized that his players did not quit.
The championship opponent, Tulsa, is a formidable three-point shooting team. They made 39.2% of their three-point attempts this season. Four Tulsa starters shoot over 33% from beyond the arc.
Defending the perimeter has been a challenge for Auburn this year. However, the Tigers’ offense and defense have improved during the NIT. The game is expected to be a high-scoring, competitive affair.
A score prediction from the source forecasts an Auburn victory. It predicts a 97-88 win for the Tigers in overtime. The game will decide the 2026 National Invitation Tournament champion.[]
Source: Montgomery Advertiser
