Auburn will face Nevada in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) quarterfinals. Kevin Overton, with five 20-plus point games in March, hopes to lead Auburn to the NIT semifinals. The game is scheduled for Wednesday.
Overton’s Determination Fuels Auburn’s NIT Run
Motivated by being left out of the NCAA Tournament, Overton seeks to unleash that frustration on Auburn’s NIT opponents. Overton is averaging 22 points in the NIT while shooting 50 percent from 3-point range. “Just trying to win games,” said Overton.
“Playing with that killer instinct,” he said. “This is the result of hard work. Our ability to stay together has been the story of the year. Knowing you only have a few more games left, you leave everything you can out there.”
An Auburn victory would give the Tigers a fifth consecutive 20-win season.
“It means everything to me,” Overton said. “Anything and everything possible, we went through. To be able to say we were able to get to a 20-win season or get to a chance to play for one of three teams that can win the last game of the season, I think is incredible.”
Pearl Praises Nevada’s Energy and Purpose
Coached by Steve Alford, Nevada is chasing victory No. 25 as well as a trip to Indianapolis for next week’s semifinals. “They have nine really solid pieces who do a lot of really good things for them,” Auburn coach Steven Pearl said. “They look like they’re still enjoying playing, which is always dangerous.
“They’re playing with a different level of energy and a different level of purpose, so our guys are going to be challenged.”
6-foot-5 guard Corey Camper Jr., a first-team All-Mountain West Conference honoree, leads four Nevada players in double figures, averaging 16.8 points per game.
“When we watch them on film, they’re still playing for something,” Pearl said. “We’ve got to be able to respond to that because they’re going to come out flying around. They’ll be amped up for this one and our guys have to be ready because they’re going to try to throw the first punch.”
Auburn’s Final Home Game
It’s another late show at Neville Wednesday with the Tigers and the Wolf Pack tipping off at 8 p.m. CT, Auburn’s final home game of the 2025-26 season.
“I want to encourage fans to continue to support this group,” Auburn coach Steven Pearl said. “One more opportunity to play at home in front of our fans that have been so great to us. We would love to have you in the building.”
After NIT home victories over South Alabama and Seattle U, Auburn (19-16) hosts Nevada (24-12) Wednesday at 8 p.m. CT in the NIT quarterfinals on ESPN2 and the Auburn Sports Network, where Andy Burcham and Randall Dickey will call the action.
“At this point, we’re not going to change anything,” Pearl said. “We are who we are. We talked about having to start well against Seattle, I thought they came out with great energy and good purpose. I thought they played hard. They were excited to be there and they’re going to have to do that again.”
The winner of Wednesday’s game will advance to the semifinals in Indianapolis.