Just two days after being left on the doorstep of the NCAA Tournament following a late season charge, Texas A&M rallied for a 74-62 victory over Alcorn State in the first round of the NIT on Tuesday. The Aggies deployed a rotation of 11 players, all of whom logged at least eight minutes as the team returned to the court following its four-day run at the SEC Tournament that culminated with a loss to Tennessee in Sunday’s title game.
Tyrece Radford led the way with 14 points for A&M while Dominic Brewton led Alcorn State with 20 points. The Aggies advanced to play Oregon in the second round after the Ducks beat Utah State 83-72 in other NIT action on Tuesday. Xavier was another NIT team in action just over 48 hours after learning it missed the NCAA Tournament. The Musketeers survived as well, advancing to the second round with a 72-68 win over Cleveland State.
The night’s best NIT game was between Texas State and North Texas, as the Mean Green outlasted the Bobcats 67-63 in overtime. That game was one of two in-state showdowns on Tuesday, as Vanderbilt outlasted cross-town foe Belmont by a score of 82-71 behind 24 points from Jordan Wright.
Success in the NIT does not always predict bigger things the following season, but it can. Last season’s champion, Memphis, is in the NCAA Tournament field this season. Baylor reached the Sweet 16 in 2013 after an NIT title in 2012, and West Virginia did the same in 2007 after winning the NIT in 2006. Here is a look at the full bracket.
2022 NIT schedule
Games in the first three rounds to be played at the higher-seeded team’s home arena
Tuesday, March 15
(1) Oklahoma 89, Missouri St. 75
(3) VCU 90, Princeton 79
(4) Vanderbilt 82, Belmont 71
(2) North Texas 67, Texas St. 63
(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) Washington St. 63, Santa Clara 50
Wednesday, March 16
Toledo vs. (1) Dayton — 7 p.m. on ESPN+
(3) Wake Forest vs. Towson — 7 p.m. on ESPN+
(3) Mississippi State vs. Virginia — 7 p.m. on ESPN2
Toledo vs. Dayton — 7 p.m. on ESPN+
(3) Saint Louis vs. Northern Iowa — 8 p.m. on ESPN+
(1) SMU vs. Nicholls — 8 p.m. on ESPN+
(3) Florida vs. Iona — 9 p.m. on ESPN2
(2) BYU vs. Long Beach St. — 9 p.m. on ESPN+
Quarterfinals: March 19-20
Semifinals: March 22-23
Semifinals: March 29 (Madison Square Garden)
Championship: March 31 (Madison Square Garden)
