Tulsa Defeats New Mexico to Advance to NIT Championship

Golden Hurricane will face winner of Auburn vs. Illinois State in title game

Apr. 3, 2026 at 7:10am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the dynamic action of a basketball game, with players' forms abstracted into angular shapes in a vibrant color palette.Tulsa's gritty victory over New Mexico sets up an intriguing NIT championship matchup as the Golden Hurricane seek their third title in program history.Indianapolis Today

David Green led five Tulsa players in double figures as the Golden Hurricane outlasted New Mexico 74-69 in the NIT semifinals on Thursday in Indianapolis. Tulsa, a No. 1 seed, will face the winner of the other semifinal between No. 1 Auburn and No. 4 Illinois State in Sunday's championship game as they seek their third NIT title.

Why it matters

The NIT tournament provides an opportunity for teams that did not make the NCAA Tournament to compete for a postseason championship. Tulsa's victory over New Mexico, another No. 1 seed, sets up an intriguing final matchup as the Golden Hurricane look to add to their NIT championship pedigree.

The details

David Green led Tulsa with 13 points, while Ade Popoola (12 points), Miles Barnstable (11), Tylen Riley (10), and Jaylen Lawal (10) also scored in double figures for the Golden Hurricane. Tulsa never trailed in the second half and pulled away late after New Mexico had tied the game at 59 with 5:01 remaining. The Lobos struggled from the field, shooting just 35.3% overall and 21.2% from 3-point range.

  • The game was played on Thursday, April 3, 2026 in Indianapolis.

The players

David Green

A key player for Tulsa, leading the team with 13 points in the victory.

Jake Hall

Led New Mexico with 18 points in the losing effort.

JT Rock

Scored 16 points for New Mexico in the semifinal game.

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What they’re saying

“We knew it was going to be a tough battle against a very good New Mexico team, but our guys stepped up and made the plays we needed to advance to the championship game.”

— Frank Haith, Tulsa Head Coach

What’s next

Tulsa will face the winner of the Auburn vs. Illinois State semifinal in the NIT championship game on Sunday, April 5, 2026.

The takeaway

Tulsa's balanced scoring attack and strong defensive effort proved to be the difference as they overcame a tough New Mexico squad to reach the NIT title game. The Golden Hurricane will look to add to their NIT championship pedigree in the final.