Auburn and Illinois State have secured spots in the NIT semifinals, joining Tulsa and New Mexico as the final four teams in the 2026 NIT tournament. The two teams will face each other on April 2 at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
In the quarterfinals, No. 4 seed Illinois State defeated Dayton 61-55, with Johnny Kinziger leading the charge with 16 points. The Redbirds have now defeated Kent State, Wake Forest, and Dayton to reach the semifinals. Meanwhile, No. 1 seed Auburn edged past Nevada 75-69 in their quarterfinal matchup.
Tylen Riley of Tulsa put on a standout performance in their quarterfinal win over Wichita State, scoring 21 points, grabbing six rebounds, and dishing out six assists. New Mexico also advanced to the semifinals after defeating Saint Joseph's 84-69, thanks in part to Tomislav Bulijan's 27 points.
Only four power conference teams remain in the NIT this year, with Auburn, Cal, Wake Forest, and Oklahoma State being the lone representatives. Several programs, including Seton Hall, Virginia Tech, Belmont, and San Diego State, declined NIT invitations after missing out on the NCAA Tournament.
Auburn's path to the semifinals is a testament to their resilience and determination. The team's ability to adapt and overcome adversity will be crucial in their upcoming matchup against Illinois State. With Tylen Riley's impressive performance still fresh in their minds, the Tigers will look to replicate that success against the Redbirds.
