The 2026 National Invitation Tournament (NIT) has kicked off with a bang, and all eyes in Alabama are fixed on Neville Arena tonight, where the Auburn Tigers host the South Alabama Jaguars in a high-stakes, intrastate showdown. Auburn, the No. 1 overall seed in this year’s NIT, enters the contest as a heavy favorite, but South Alabama’s gritty squad is determined to spoil the Tigers’ postseason ambitions and notch their first NIT win since 1984.
Tip-off is set for 10:00 p.m. ET (9:00 p.m. CST), with ESPN2 providing live coverage for fans eager to catch every minute of this classic Alabama basketball battle. The Tigers, boasting a 17-16 record and representing the SEC, were among the first teams left out of the NCAA Tournament field, but head coach Steven Pearl has rallied his players around the idea of proving doubters wrong on a national stage. Pearl’s message is clear: the NIT is no consolation prize, and Auburn is here to make a statement.
Across the court, the South Alabama Jaguars, under the guidance of head coach Richie Riley, arrive at Neville Arena with a 21-11 mark and plenty of motivation. Riley’s program hasn’t posted a losing record since he took the helm in 2018, and this season marks their second consecutive 21-win campaign. Despite a disappointing early exit in the Sun Belt Conference tournament, the Jaguars are eager to showcase their growth and resilience against a top-tier SEC opponent.
For Auburn, the road to Indianapolis—and a potential NIT championship—begins at home, with the possibility of hosting up to three games before the semifinals move to the neutral site. But the Tigers will have to navigate the tournament without their starting center, KeShawn Murphy. The senior big man, averaging 10.7 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.0 block and 1.0 steal per game, opted out of postseason play, leaving a gap in the lineup that Pearl and his staff must fill on short notice.
Fortunately, Auburn’s roster is loaded with offensive firepower. Keyshawn Hall, a transfer who’s made stops at UNLV, George Mason, and UCF, has been a revelation, pouring in 19.8 points and grabbing 6.7 rebounds per game. Alongside him, Kevin Overton delivers 13.4 points per contest and is a lethal shooter, knocking down over 38% of his three-point attempts and converting 85% of his free throws. Sophomore point guard Tahaad Pettiford brings additional scoring punch with 15.5 points per game, while Elyjah Freeman has emerged as a rebounding force, snagging 6 or more boards in four of his last five outings.
Auburn’s statistical profile is impressive: the Tigers attempt the fourth-most free throws per game in the nation, and their offensive rebounding rate ranks 12th nationally. They possess a top-15 offense per KenPom ratings and are ranked No. 38 overall—making them the highest-rated team not to earn an NCAA Tournament berth. However, defensive inconsistencies have plagued them, with a bottom-20 three-point defense and a bottom-50 scoring defense offsetting their top-50 scoring offense. Auburn finished the regular season 11-4 at home, including a 7-1 mark against non-tournament teams, and they’ve already notched convincing March victories over LSU (by 14 points) and Mississippi State (by 18).
On the other side, South Alabama is no pushover. The Jaguars are 11-7 in away and neutral site games this year and have developed a reputation for disciplined play, committing the fewest fouls and third-fewest turnovers per game in the country. Their offensive attack revolves around Chaze Harris, who averages 18.9 points, 4.9 assists, and 4.7 rebounds per game. Harris is relentless, taking 12.4 two-point shots and 7.7 free throws per contest, though he rarely attempts threes. Adam Olsen provides a perimeter threat, sinking 39.5% of his 8.3 three-point attempts per game en route to 16.7 points nightly. Guard Randy Brady leads the team in rebounding with 5.8 boards per game, while center Stephen Williams chips in 6.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks off the bench.
Despite their strengths, the Jaguars face some daunting challenges. They rank just 264th nationally in rebounding rate (48.3%) and lack size, with no players listed at 6-foot-10 or taller. Their zone-heavy defense forces opponents to the perimeter, leading to the highest three-point attempt rate against in the nation, but this approach could backfire against Auburn’s sharpshooters and relentless offensive rebounders. South Alabama’s bottom-10 free throw percentage also looms as a potential Achilles’ heel in a game where every point matters.
In terms of analytics, South Alabama checks in at No. 205 in KenPom (No. 212 offense, No. 197 defense) and No. 187 in the NET rankings. Their record against top-tier competition is mixed: 0-0 against Quad 1, 1-2 against Quad 2, 7-5 against Quad 3, and 11-4 against Quad 4 opponents. Tonight’s matchup is considered Quad 1 for South Alabama and Quad 4 for Auburn, underscoring the disparity in perceived team strength.
Oddsmakers have installed Auburn as an 18 to 18.5-point favorite, with the Tigers holding a 93% win probability and the Jaguars just 7%. The over/under is set at 153.5 points, reflecting expectations for a high-scoring affair. Auburn’s odds to win the entire NIT tournament stand at +350, the shortest in the field. According to Bart Torvik’s model, Auburn is projected to win by 19 points—though the Tigers’ recent 3-9 skid and the unpredictable nature of March basketball mean nothing is guaranteed.
“Credit to Auburn and the program’s leadership for accepting an invitation to the NIT. They could have easily pouted and gone home like Notre Dame did when they got left out of the College Football Playoff, but they seem eager to prove the selection committee wrong,” wrote Sam Connon in his game preview. That chip-on-the-shoulder mentality may just be the Tigers’ secret weapon as they look to shake off late-season struggles and make a deep run.
As for South Alabama, the Jaguars are coming off tough losses to Southern Mississippi and Georgia Southern, but their back-to-back 20-win seasons and “crazy defensive scheme” (as described by coaches) give them hope for an upset. Head coach Richie Riley has instilled a culture of resilience, and his players are relishing the chance to test themselves against SEC competition on a national stage.
With local bragging rights, postseason glory, and a spot in the NIT quarterfinals on the line, tonight’s game promises intensity from the opening tip. Will Auburn’s offensive firepower and home-court advantage prove too much, or can South Alabama’s disciplined play and underdog spirit spring a surprise?
The action is set to unfold at Neville Arena, and fans across the state—and beyond—will be glued to their screens as these two Alabama programs battle for postseason survival. One thing’s for sure: March basketball always has a few surprises in store, and this NIT clash is shaping up to be a can’t-miss affair.