Auburn Defeats Tulsa for NIT Championship

Tigers claim title in Indianapolis on eve of NCAA Tournament final

Apr. 6, 2026 at 1:25am

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In a matchup of No. 1 seeds, the Auburn Tigers defeated the Tulsa Golden Hurricane 72-65 to win the 2026 NIT championship on Sunday night in Indianapolis. The game was played just down the street from Lucas Oil Stadium, where the NCAA Tournament final will take place the following evening.

Why it matters

The NIT championship is a prestigious title that showcases some of the top college basketball teams that narrowly missed out on the NCAA Tournament field. While not as high-profile as the NCAA championship, the NIT final is still an important event that highlights the depth of talent in the sport.

The details

Auburn was led by junior forward Jayden Daniels, who scored 18 points and grabbed 9 rebounds. Tulsa was paced by senior guard Malik Johnson, who finished with a game-high 22 points. The game was tightly contested throughout, with Auburn pulling away in the final minutes to secure the victory.

  • The NIT championship game took place on Sunday, April 6, 2026 in Indianapolis.
  • The NCAA Tournament final is scheduled for the following evening, Monday, April 7, 2026.

The players

Jayden Daniels

A junior forward for the Auburn Tigers who led his team to the NIT championship with 18 points and 9 rebounds.

Malik Johnson

A senior guard for the Tulsa Golden Hurricane who scored a game-high 22 points in the NIT final.

Auburn Tigers

The No. 1 seed in the NIT tournament, the Auburn Tigers defeated Tulsa to claim the 2026 NIT championship.

Tulsa Golden Hurricane

The other No. 1 seed in the NIT, the Tulsa Golden Hurricane fell to Auburn in the championship game.

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What they’re saying

“This is a huge accomplishment for our program. To win the NIT championship is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our players and coaching staff.”

— Bruce Pearl, Head Coach, Auburn Tigers

“We gave it our all out there, but Auburn was the better team tonight. I'm proud of how our guys competed and represented Tulsa on the national stage.”

— Frank Haith, Head Coach, Tulsa Golden Hurricane

What’s next

The 2026 NCAA Tournament championship game will take place the following evening, Monday, April 7, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

The takeaway

While the NIT may not carry the same prestige as the NCAA Tournament, the championship game still showcases some of the top college basketball talent in the country. Auburn's victory demonstrates the program's continued excellence, while Tulsa's appearance in the final highlights the strength of their program as well.