After winning their first two NIT games at home, the Tulsa Golden Hurricane advanced to the NIT Semifinals in Indianapolis last weekend. Tulsa beat New Mexico, 74-69, in the semifinals on Thursday, and moved on to play Auburn in the Championship game on Sunday.

Tulsa’s win over New Mexico in the semifinals was the team’s 30th win of the season, becoming the ninth school in American Conference history to reach that mark.

For Tulsa, Ade Popoola scored 12 points, converting four 3-pointers and recording six rebounds. Tyler Behrend collected eight rebounds and added seven points. Tylen Riley contributed 10 points and led the team with five assists. David Green posted 13 points, making 7-of-8 free throws and blocking two shots.

In the NIT Championship game, Tulsa trailed by 21 points in the first half and looked doomed, however the Golden Hurricane battled back with an amazing comeback in the second half to force overtime. Auburn got past Tulsa, 92-86 in OT to clinch the NIT Championship, Sunday in Indianapolis.

Tulsa’s season ends with a 30-8 record and the second most in program history. Auburn finished with a 22-16 record.

David Green led Tulsa with 25 points, along with six rebounds and a pair of blocks in his final collegiate game. Tylen Riley added 20 points while Ade Popoola also finished in double figures with 13.

The Golden Hurricane came out shooting cold in the first half and Auburn built a 21-point lead, 34-13, with 7:45 to play in the opening half. Jaylen Lawal answered with a three which seemingly took the lid off the basket for Tulsa. The teams traded buckets and went into halftime with Auburn leading, 48-31.

Auburn continued its hot shooting and took a 20-point lead early in the second half.

Green went on a six-point run of his own before Riley got Tulsa back within single digits with 12:58 to play. A pair of Green free throws cut it to six.

Back-to-back threes by Green and Miles Barnstable made it a one-possession game at 59-57. Tulsa tied the game on two free throws by Green, followed by two from Riley, and erased a 20-point second half deficit in less than 10 minutes.