Auburn is aiming for a spot in Indianapolis as it faces Nevada in the NIT quarterfinals on Wednesday night, standing as the only remaining power-conference team in the tournament.
The top-seeded Tigers (19-16) advanced after holding off Seattle University for a 91-85 win on Sunday. That victory secured one more home game for coach Steven Pearl’s team, with a chance to reach the semifinals set for April 2 at Butler.
Kevin Overton led the way with 23 points, scoring 16 after halftime as Auburn carried a 42-31 lead into the break. Although Seattle outscored Auburn 54-49 in the second half, the Tigers dominated the boards 41-23 and capitalized at the free-throw line, making 24 compared to Seattle’s seven.
After the game, Pearl acknowledged defensive issues but praised his team’s offensive performance against a strong Seattle defense. He noted the need for improvement, especially after allowing 16 three-pointers, including seven from the opponent’s top shooter.
Overton has been a key contributor, averaging 22 points across Auburn’s two NIT victories while shooting efficiently from beyond the arc. He’s been supported by Keyshawn Hall, Elyjah Freeman, and Tahaad Pettiford, all of whom are averaging double figures.
The win also extended Auburn’s nonconference home winning streak to 66 games, dating back to November 2016.
Nevada (24-12), the No. 2 seed, advanced with a 73-63 win over Liberty, highlighted by Corey Camper Jr.’s triple-double performance. The Wolf Pack have been strong at home, finishing 17-2.
Head coach Steve Alford expressed satisfaction with the play of center Joel Armotrading, who recently returned from a lengthy injury absence. Armotrading contributed 10 points, five rebounds, and two blocks in limited minutes, showing signs of what he could have offered if healthy all season.
Nevada enters the matchup with four players averaging double-digit scoring: Camper, Elijah Price, Tayshawn Comer, and Vaughn Weems.
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