The 2026 NIT started Tuesday from numerous house websites throughout the nation, and the theme of the primary spherical was upsets. Liberty eradicated No. 3 seed George Mason 77-71 behind 23 factors from Josh Smith. Liberty will face the winner of No. 2 seed Nevada and Murray State within the second spherical this weekend.
And the surprising outcomes did not cease there. UNC-Wilmington defeated No. 3 seed Yale 68-67 on the street and can face No. 2 seed Dayton or Bradley within the second spherical. No. 1 seed Auburn trailed at halftime by six to South Alabama at house. Nonetheless, the Tigers flipped the swap within the second half and prevented an upset scare with a 78-67 win over the Jaguars.
Auburn will face No. 4 seed Seattle U subsequent.
The primary spherical continues on Wednesday with eight extra first-round matchups. One of many video games to control is No. 1 seed New Mexico dealing with Sam Houston. No. 1 seed Wake Forest will even be in motion when it faces Navy at house.
Solely 4 energy convention groups are competing within the NIT this yr: Auburn, Cal, Wake Forest and Oklahoma State. A number of applications — resembling Seton Corridor, Virginia Tech, Belmont and San Diego State declined an invite to the NIT after lacking out on the NCAA Match.
Here’s a have a look at the complete bracket.
2026 NIT key dates
First Spherical: March 17-18
Second spherical: March 21-22
Quarterfinals: March 24-25
Semifinals: April 2 (Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis)
Championship: April 5 (Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis)
All occasions Japanese
2026 NIT First Spherical schedule
Video games within the first three rounds to be performed on the higher-seeded group’s house enviornment
Auburn Area
FIRST ROUND
No. 1 Auburn 78, South Alabama 67 | Recap
No. 2 Nevada vs. Murray State | Wednesday, 10 p.m.
Liberty 77, No. 3 George Mason 71 | Recap
No. 4 Seattle U 67, St. Thomas (MN) 52 | Recap
SECOND ROUND
No. 1 Auburn vs. No. 4 Seattle U
TBD vs. Liberty
Albuquerque Area
FIRST ROUND
No. 1 New Mexico vs. Sam Houston | Wednesday, 9 p.m.
No. 2 Cal vs. UIC | Wednesday, 11 p.m.
No. 3 Colorado State vs. Saint Joseph’s | Wednesday, 11 p.m.
No. 4 Utah Valley vs. George Washington | Wednesday, 8 p.m
SECOND ROUND
TBD vs. TBD
TBD vs. TBD
Winston-Salem Area
FIRST ROUND
No. 1 Wake Forest vs. Navy | Wednesday, 7 p.m.
No. 2 Dayton vs. Bradley | Wednesday, 9 p.m.
UNCW 68, No. 3 Yale 67 | Recap
No. 4 Illinois State vs. Kent State | Wednesday, 8 p.m
SECOND ROUND
TBD vs. TBD
TBD vs. UNC-Wilmington
Tulsa Area
FIRST ROUND
No. 1 Tulsa 89, Stephen F. Austin 84 (OT) | Recap
No. 2 Oklahoma State 84, Davidson 80 | Recap
No. 3 Wichita State 74, Wyoming 70 | Recap
No. 4 UC Irvine vs. UNLV | Tuesday, 11 p.m
SECOND ROUND
No. 1 Tulsa vs. TBD
No. 2 Oklahoma State vs. No. 3 Wichita State
