Lobos Lose to Tulsa in NIT Semifinals

University of New Mexico basketball team falls short in postseason tournament

Apr. 3, 2026 at 10:32am

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting a basketball game, with the court and players broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in the team colors of the University of New Mexico Lobos and Tulsa Golden Hurricane.The Lobos' NIT semifinal loss to Tulsa marks the end of a challenging season for the University of New Mexico basketball program.Today in Tulsa

The University of New Mexico Lobos men's basketball team saw their season come to an end with a 74-69 loss to the Tulsa Golden Hurricane in the semifinals of the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) at Hinkle Fieldhouse.

Why it matters

The Lobos were hoping to win the NIT title and end their season on a high note after a disappointing regular season, but they came up short against a tough Tulsa squad. This loss marks the end of the Lobos' 2025-26 campaign.

The details

In a closely contested game, Tulsa was able to pull away late and secure the 5-point victory over New Mexico. The Lobos struggled to contain Tulsa's balanced scoring attack, with four Golden Hurricane players reaching double figures. New Mexico kept the game close throughout, but ultimately couldn't overcome Tulsa's strong second-half performance.

  • The game was played on April 3, 2026 at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

The players

University of New Mexico Lobos

The men's basketball team from the University of New Mexico, representing the school in the NIT tournament.

Tulsa Golden Hurricane

The men's basketball team from the University of Tulsa, who defeated the Lobos in the NIT semifinals.

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The takeaway

While the Lobos' season ended in disappointment, the team can take solace in the fact that they were able to make a run in the NIT after a tough regular season. The loss to Tulsa marks the end of the Lobos' 2025-26 campaign, but the program will look to bounce back stronger next year.