Auburn won its first National Invitation Tournament (NIT) championship on April 5, defeating Tulsa 92-86 in overtime at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Kevin Overton played a key role by hitting a game-tying three-pointer with eight seconds left in regulation and then making a long-range shot in overtime to secure the win.
The victory marks an important milestone for Auburn, as it is the program’s first NIT title and comes after overcoming several challenges during the game. Auburn had built a significant lead but saw it slip away before rallying late to force overtime and ultimately prevail despite being without two key players due to fouls.
Overton, who was named Most Outstanding Player of the tournament, said, “Trusting my work. My teammates trust me to make shots. I try to do what I can for these guys.” Head coach Steven Pearl praised his team’s perseverance: “I’m really proud of these kids. They found a way to stay together and beat five pretty good teams… These are unbelievable young men with great character from great families.”
The game featured strong performances from several Auburn players. Overton led with 26 points, including five three-pointers; Tahaad Pettiford added 24 points and eight assists; Keyshawn Hall recorded a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds; Sebastian Williams-Adams scored crucial free throws in overtime; Elyjah Freeman contributed with rebounding; and Filip Jovic had twelve points along with four assists.
Tulsa challenged Auburn by erasing a large deficit in the second half but fell short as Auburn’s defense limited their three-point shooting success. The Tigers’ ability to adapt—playing much of overtime with five guards—proved decisive. Pettiford reflected on their teamwork: “We stayed together… We needed stops, we had to break them down and that’s what we did in overtime.”
Auburn concludes the season under Pearl’s leadership with a record of 22-16 over 38 games played—their highest win total since previous notable seasons—and looks ahead to building on this momentum into next year.
