The stage was set for a thrilling showdown in Indianapolis as the New Mexico Lobos squared off against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane in the NIT semifinals. With a spot in the championship game on the line, fans tuned in from across the country, catching the action live on ESPN or streaming through Fubo, DirecTV Stream, Sling, and ESPN+. Tip-off at Hinkle Fieldhouse was slated for 7 p.m. ET on April 2, 2026, and the anticipation was palpable.
New Mexico entered the contest as the slight favorite, carrying a -3.5 point advantage on the spread and a moneyline of -162. The over/under was set at a lofty 161.5 points, reflecting the offensive firepower expected from both teams. The Lobos, boasting a 23-10 overall record and a 14-8 mark in Mountain West play, had earned their semifinal berth with an emphatic 84-69 victory over St. Joseph’s. In that quarterfinal win, Tomislav Buljan was a force of nature, pouring in 27 points and grabbing 11 rebounds, while freshman Jake Hall added an impressive 24 points of his own.
Tulsa, meanwhile, punched their ticket to the semifinals with an 83-79 triumph over Wichita State. TJ Williams led the Golden Hurricane with 19 points, and Dillon Battie chipped in 17, demonstrating the team’s balanced scoring attack. Heading into the matchup, Tulsa’s offense was a known threat—attempting 48% of their shots from beyond the arc and hitting 39% of those attempts. The Golden Hurricane’s perimeter prowess was anchored by Miles Barnstable, who averaged 17.7 points per game in the NIT and had not hesitated to launch nine or more three-pointers in each tournament game.
But New Mexico’s defense was up to the challenge. According to KenPom, the Lobos ranked as the 42nd-best defensive unit in the nation, forcing turnovers on 19% of possessions and holding opponents to just 30% shooting from deep. Head coach Eric Olen had instilled a gritty, disciplined approach, and the Lobos’ ability to disrupt opposing offenses was a key storyline entering the contest. As one analyst put it, “New Mexico’s ability to force turnovers at a 19% clip (47th best nationally) will force Tulsa to play at a slower pace than they’d prefer while also fueling transition opportunities for the Lobos.”
Indeed, transition play was expected to be a major factor. Deyton Albury, a high-usage scorer for New Mexico, was spotlighted as a player to watch, with many predicting he’d exceed 12.5 points thanks to his knack for capitalizing on fast breaks. The Lobos also excelled on the offensive glass, posting an offensive rebound rate just over 30%. Tomislav Buljan, in particular, was highlighted as a menace on the boards, with expectations that he’d surpass 10.5 rebounds in the game—a testament to his dominance inside.
On the other side, Tulsa’s offense revolved around its perimeter threats. Head coach Eric Konkol had designed plenty of sets to free up Barnstable, and almost every starter (save for big man Tyler Behrend, who was 9-of-35 from deep) could knock down threes at a 39% clip or better. Lead guard Tylen Riley, though not a prolific three-point shooter, was known for his speed and ability to penetrate, often finishing at the rim or kicking out to shooters. However, Riley’s occasional carelessness with the ball was an area New Mexico hoped to exploit, leveraging their aggressive defensive schemes.
Defensively, Tulsa faced its own set of challenges. Ranked just 139th in efficiency, the Golden Hurricane allowed opponents to shoot 50% on two-pointers (112th nationally) and 32.6% from three (91st). Their lack of a true rim protector was a glaring weakness, especially with the 6-foot-9, 250-pound Buljan looming in the paint. “Nobody on Tulsa’s roster can check Buljan,” noted one preview, underscoring the mismatch down low. If Tulsa opted to double-team Buljan, New Mexico’s shooters—like Hall and fellow freshman Uriah Tenette, both dangerous from distance—stood ready to punish them from beyond the arc.
The chess match between these two squads was as much about style as it was about substance. New Mexico’s offense was versatile, shooting 36% from three (50th nationally) and converting 53% of its two-point attempts (94th). The Lobos thrived in transition and could execute in the half-court, making them a tough cover for any defense, let alone one with Tulsa’s interior vulnerabilities. The Golden Hurricane, conversely, needed to slow the tempo, limit transition opportunities, and hope their three-point barrage could keep them in contention.
Both teams arrived in Indianapolis with momentum. For New Mexico, the journey had been marked by resilience in Mountain West play and a defense-first mentality. “There’s just more paths here,” one analyst said, pointing to the Lobos’ balance and their knack for making timely plays in close games. Tulsa, on the other hand, leaned on its shooting and the ability to get hot from deep. The Golden Hurricane had hit the game total over in 17 of their previous 25 games, a testament to their high-scoring ways and willingness to engage in shootouts.
As the game tipped off under the bright lights of Hinkle Fieldhouse, all eyes were on the key matchups: Buljan versus Tulsa’s bigs, Barnstable’s shooting versus New Mexico’s perimeter defense, and the chess match between Olen and Konkol on the sidelines. Would the Lobos’ defense clamp down on Tulsa’s shooters, or would the Golden Hurricane’s long-range attack catch fire at just the right time?
With so much at stake—a berth in the NIT championship on the line—every possession was bound to matter. Fans knew they were in for a battle of contrasting styles, where a single run or defensive stand could swing the momentum. As the action unfolded in Indianapolis, the basketball world watched closely, eager to see which team would seize the moment and punch their ticket to the title game.
For now, the NIT semifinal remains one of the most intriguing matchups of the college basketball postseason, with the outcome still hanging in the balance as the teams fight for their championship dreams.