Indianapolis, IN — Auburn Tigers men’s basketball closed out an emotional postseason run with a statement victory, turning disappointment into triumph after being left out of the NCAA Tournament.
Under first-year head coach Steven Pearl, Auburn stormed through the NIT with relentless energy, a mindset that was tested again in Sunday’s championship clash at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
The Tigers appeared to be cruising early, building a commanding 21-point lead over the Tulsa Golden Hurricane. But the game took a dramatic turn in the second half as Tulsa clawed all the way back, erasing the deficit and putting Auburn on the brink.
Rather than unravel, Auburn stayed composed. The Tigers kept the game within reach in the closing moments of regulation. A late free throw by Elyjah Freeman cut the deficit to three with just seconds remaining.
Moments later, a critical five-second violation gave Auburn another chance, and Kevin Overton delivered—knocking down a clutch three-pointer to force overtime.
In the extra period, Auburn regained control and never let it slip away, securing a 92–86 victory to cap their NIT run. Overton led all scorers with 26 points, while Tahaad Pettiford contributed 24 in the winning effort.
Tulsa, which finished an impressive 30–8 season, was led by David Green’s 25 points and Tylen Riley’s 20.
The win marks the first NIT championship in program history for Auburn, turning a postseason snub into a defining achievement.
