The Tulsa Golden Hurricane are headed back to the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) championship game after outlasting the New Mexico Lobos 74-69 in a tense semifinal showdown at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Thursday, April 2, 2026. It was a battle of No. 1 seeds, and for Tulsa, a shot at history is now just one game away. The Golden Hurricane will take on Auburn—fresh off their own semifinal triumph over Illinois State—at Gainbridge Fieldhouse this Sunday, with the NIT title and a place in the record books on the line.
From the opening tip, Tulsa (30-7) showed why they’re one of the most balanced and resilient teams in college basketball this season. They trailed for just 2 minutes and 24 seconds all night and never once relinquished the lead in the second half. Five players hit double figures in scoring—a testament to their depth and unselfish play. David Green led the charge with 13 points, while Ade Popoola chipped in 12, Miles Barnstable added 11, and both Tylen Riley and Jaylen Lawal finished with 10 apiece.
But make no mistake: this was no walk in the park. The Lobos, who had bulldozed their way through the NIT bracket with three consecutive wins by 15 or more points, refused to go quietly. New Mexico (26-11), under first-year head coach Eric Olen, clawed back from a seven-point halftime deficit and tied the game at 59 with just over five minutes remaining. That’s when Tulsa’s Tylen Riley seized the moment, rattling off a personal 8-0 run that put the Golden Hurricane back in control with two minutes left. Riley would ultimately score nine of Tulsa’s final 15 points, proving to be the difference-maker down the stretch.
“Congratulations to Tulsa,” said New Mexico coach Eric Olen after the game. “They’re a good basketball team. They played better than we did tonight. They deserve to advance.”
For the Lobos, the defeat stings even more because of the way it unfolded. Their leading scorer, Jake Hall, struggled mightily in the first half, managing only three points on 1-of-7 shooting. Yet Hall refused to give in, pouring in 17 of his game-high 20 points after halftime and trying to will his team back into contention. “Nothing. I mean, I got all the shots I wanted, you know?” Hall told the Albuquerque Journal. “They were playing with fire. I mean, I got wide open looks, just didn’t capitalize. And it sucks letting these guys down. Wide open 3s. It sucks, man.”
New Mexico’s shooting woes were glaring. The Lobos finished just 35.1% from the field and a frigid 21.2% from beyond the arc, connecting on only 7 of 33 three-point attempts. Tulsa’s defense deserves plenty of credit, holding the Lobos to tough looks and blocking seven shots on the night. The Golden Hurricane, meanwhile, shot 41.4% overall and 37.5% from three-point range, making the most of their opportunities in key moments.
Other New Mexico contributors included JT Rock, who tallied 16 points and sparked a furious second-half rally, and Deyton Albury, who finished his collegiate career with nine points, seven rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Usual double-double threat Tomislav Buljan added nine points on 4-of-13 shooting and revealed after the game that he’s been granted another year of eligibility by the NCAA. Buljan, along with Hall and Uriah Tenette, now faces uncertainty about their future as the NCAA Transfer Portal opens next week. “We all know that the transfer portal opens soon. I need to talk with my representatives about the next steps,” Buljan said. “It’s not all about the money. It’s honestly about fit, more or less. Money, that’s just relative because I want to play basketball at a high level. I want to improve.”
The Lobos’ season, which ended at 26-11, will be remembered for its thrilling postseason run and the emergence of Hall as one of the nation’s most dynamic freshmen. But Thursday’s loss also raises questions about what comes next for both the roster and the coaching staff. Olen, when pressed about his own future and rumors of interest from other programs, simply stated, “Yeah, I’m the coach of New Mexico and I’m not going to comment on anything outside of that.”
For Tulsa, the victory is another chapter in a storied NIT history. The Golden Hurricane are the only one of this year’s semifinalists with previous NIT titles, having lifted the trophy in 1981 and 2001. Now, they’ll look to add a third banner to the rafters. Their path to the championship has been anything but easy, with overtime and close wins sprinkled throughout the bracket. After dispatching Stephen F. Austin in an overtime thriller, Tulsa rolled past UNLV and edged Wichita State in the quarterfinals before taking down New Mexico in the semifinal.
The NIT championship game, set for Sunday, April 5, at 8 p.m. Eastern Time, will see Tulsa face off against Auburn at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, home of the NBA’s Indiana Pacers. Auburn, making its first-ever NIT final appearance, arrives on the heels of a dominant 88-66 win over Illinois State. The Tigers are hungry for their own slice of history, aiming to cap their postseason with a championship after being among the first teams left out of the NCAA Tournament.
Fans eager to catch the action can tune in to ESPN for live coverage. The matchup promises plenty of intrigue: Tulsa’s balanced attack and championship pedigree versus Auburn’s explosive offense, led by Keyshawn Hall, who poured in 24 points in the semifinal. It’s a classic power-on-power showdown, with both programs chasing either a new milestone or a return to former glory.
As for the Lobos, their run may have ended short of a championship, but their resilience and heart were on full display—qualities that should serve them well as they regroup for next season. With transfer decisions looming and a promising core, New Mexico’s story is far from over. For now, though, it’s Tulsa’s time to shine, with one more hurdle between them and NIT immortality.
The Golden Hurricane and Tigers will meet in the heart of Indianapolis, each with a chance to etch their name in college basketball history. One thing’s for sure: Sunday night’s title game is set to be a can’t-miss finale to an unforgettable NIT tournament.