INDIANAPOLIS — Kevin Overton scored 26 points, Tahaad Pettiford added 24 and Auburn took advantage of a late 5-second violation in regulation to beat Tulsa 92-86 in overtime Sunday night and win its first National Invitation Tournament championship.
Ade Popoola sank a 3-pointer to give Tulsa a 76-71 lead with 1:05 left in regulation. Pettiford hit a 3-pointer with 44 seconds remaining, and Elyjah Freeman made the second of two free throws after two foul shots by Tulsa’s Tyler Behrend for a 78-75 lead. The Golden Hurricane couldn’t inbound the ball after Freeman’s make, though, and Overton buried a baseline 3 with eight seconds left to force overtime.
Overton hit his fifth 3 of the game to put Auburn up 89-84, and the Tigers led over the final 3:31 of the extra period, wrapping up Steven Pearl’s first season as head coach with a 22-16 record after struggling down the stretch Southeastern Conference play and missing out on the NCAA Division I tournament.
“I’m really proud of these kids. They found a way to stay together and beat five pretty good teams,” Pearl said in a post on the Auburn athletic department’s website. “I’m incredibly grateful to these guys. They could’ve packed it up and they didn’t. These are unbelievable young men with great character from great families. I’m incredibly honored and proud to be their coach.
“They showed they love their university. They love Auburn and they played for Auburn. They showed a ton of resilience. They showed what Auburn men are all about. It’s a great way to end the season.”
Overton shot 7-of-13 from the floor and made all but eight of his free throws, Pettiford had four 3-pointers and eight assists, and Keyshawn Hall totaled 11 points and 12 rebounds to post a double-double for the Tigers. Sebastian Williams-Adams added 13 points off the bench, and Filip Jovic scored 12.
David Green had 25 points, Tylen Riley scored 20 and Popoola added 13 for Tulsa (30-8), which finished with the second-most wins in program history.
Pettiford had 15 points by halftime and Overton scored 14 for a 48-31 advantage after jumping out to a 34-13 lead.
Tulsa trailed 55-35, but Green had six straight points and scored eight in a 12-0 run to cut it to 57-51 with 12:18 remaining. Pettiford made two free throws to end the run, but Green and Miles Barnstable followed with 3-pointers and Green added two free throws to tie. Riley hit two more to extend a 24-2 run, and Tulsa took its first lead 61-59 with 10:26 left.
Tulsa won NIT titles in 1981 and 2001.