Just two days after being left on the cusp of the NCAA Championship after a late-season charge, Texas A&M smashed a 74-62 win over Alcorn State in the first round of NIT on Tuesday. The Aggies posted 11 players, all of whom scored at least eight minutes as the team returned to court after their four-day run in the SEC Championship that culminated in Tennessee losing the title game on Sunday.
Tyrese Radford led with 14 points for A&M while Dominic Broughton led Alcorn State with 20 points. The Aggies moved up to play Oregon in the second round after the Ducks beat Utah State 83-72 in other NIT actions on Tuesday. Xavier was another NIT team in action just over 48 hours later after learning he had missed the NCAA Championship. The Knights also survived, advancing to the second round with a 72-68 victory over Cleveland State.
It was the best one-night game between Texas and North Texas, with the Mean Green beating the Bobcats 67-63 in overtime. That game was one of two in-state matches on Tuesday, as Vanderbilt outlasted opponent Belmont 82-71, 24 points behind Jordan Wright.
Success in NIT doesn’t always predict bigger things the following season, but it can happen. Last season’s champion, Memphis, is in the NCAA Championship this season. Baylor reached Sweet 16 in 2013 after the NIT title in 2012, and West Virginia did the same in 2007 after winning the NIT title in 2006. Here’s a look at full arc.
2022 NIT schedule
Matches in the first three rounds will be played on the court of the top ranked team
Tuesday 15 March
(1) Oklahoma 89, Missouri St. 75
(3) VCU 90, Princeton 79
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(2) North Texas 67, Texas 63 . Street
(2) Xavier 72, Cleveland St. 68
Oregon 83, (4) Utah St 72
(1) Texas A&M 74, Alcorn St. 62
St. Bonaventure 76, (4) Colorado 68
(4) 63 Washington Street, Santa Clara 50
Wednesday 16 March
Toledo vs (1) Dayton – 7pm on ESPN+
(3) Wake Forest vs. Tucson – 7pm on ESPN+
(3) Mississippi State vs Virginia – 7pm on ESPN2
Toledo vs Dayton – 7pm on ESPN+
(3) St. Louis vs. Northern Iowa – 8pm on ESPN+
(1) SMU vs. Nicholls – 8pm on ESPN+
(3) Florida vs Iona – 9pm on ESPN2
(2) BYU vs. Long Beach St. – 9 p.m. on ESPN +
Quarter-finalsMarch 19-20
Semi-finalsMarch 22-23
Semi-finalsMarch 29 (Madison Square Garden)
championshipMarch 31 (Madison Square Garden)
