Sunday’s NIT championship game is more than a consolation prize for missing out on the Big Dance.
Auburn has a point to prove at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Although the Tigers began this season with hopes of still playing in April, they surely didn’t think it’d be in this tournament. Nonetheless, Steven Pearl has the chance to cap off his first season at the helm on a positive note: with the program’s first-ever NIT title.
Tulsa was not a “First Four Out” team like Auburn, but it has been playing like it has a chip on its shoulder as well. The Golden Hurricane reached the NIT final by winning 10 of their last 11 games and enter with a 30-7 overall record. Regardless of the result, Sunday’s showdown is bound to be a scintillating appetizer for Monday’s NCAA national championship game.
All efficiency stats via KenPom.
How to watch Auburn vs. Tulsa in the 2026 NIT championship
ESPN programs are also available with an ESPN Unlimited subscription.
The Tigers are the clear favorite Sunday. Keyshawn Hall — coming off a 24-point performance in their semifinal win over Illinois State — has been vital to his team’s success. He’s averaging 17 points per game throughout the tournament and has also made his presence felt defensively. The senior forward snagged a season-high 15 rebounds in Auburn’s second-round affair against Seattle University.
Hall’s not alone out there, either. Guards Kevin Overton and Tahaad Pettiford are both averaging double-digit points, with Overton shooting 5-for-5 from behind the perimeter in the semifinals.
While the Tigers can pose a threat offensively from all three levels of the floor, they needed multiple tight victories to reach the NIT championship game. Their wins over Seattle and Nevada came by six points each.
Auburn ranks 10th in offensive rating, but its defense is a different story. It places 112th in efficiency, 294th in effective field goal percentage allowed (53.9) and a lowly 344th in 3-point defense, letting opponents make 37.1 percent of their attempts from behind the arc. If the Tigers can’t tighten up, Tulsa could lean on its reliable 3-point shooting (38.9 percent, fifth-best in the nation) and put Auburn on the back foot early on.
The Golden Hurricane have a balanced offense, with four players averaging at least 10.8 points per game. Throughout the tournament, guards Miles Barnstable (16 points per game) and Ade Popoola (14.5) have led the way. Senior David Green paced the team with 13 points in the five-point semifinal win over New Mexico.
Tulsa is looking for its third NIT title in program history. It previously won in 1981 and 2001.
Ticketing and streaming links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process, and do not review stories before publication.