AUBURN, Ala. – With 5 20-plus level video games in March, Kevin Overton hopes to steer Auburn to the National Invitation Tournament semifinals for the primary time in program historical past.
“Just trying to win games,” mentioned Overton, who’s averaging 22 factors in the NIT whereas taking pictures 50 p.c from 3-level vary.
Motivated by being neglected of the NCAA Tournament, Overton seeks to unleash that frustration on Auburn’s NIT opponents, with Nevada up subsequent on Wednesday.
“Playing with that killer instinct,” he mentioned. “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 mentioned. “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.”
It’s one other late present at Neville Wednesday with the Tigers and the Wolf Pack tipping off at 8 p.m. CT, Auburn’s last residence sport of the 2025-26 season.
“I want to encourage fans to continue to support this group,” Auburn coach Steven Pearl mentioned. “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.”
Coached by Steve Alford, Nevada is chasing victory No. 25 in addition to the journey to Indianapolis for subsequent week’s semifinals that awaits Wednesday’s winner.
“They have nine really solid pieces who do a lot of really good things for them,” Pearl mentioned. “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 primary-group All-Mountain West Conference honoree, leads 4 Nevada gamers in double figures, averaging 16.8 factors per sport.
“When we watch them on film, they’re still playing for something,” Pearl mentioned. “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.”
After NIT residence 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, the place Andy Burcham and Randall Dickey will name the motion.
“At this point, we’re not going to change anything,” Pearl mentioned. “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.”
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on X: @jeff_shearer
