The times and locations for the second round of NIT are now set after the first round concludes on Wednesday night. Among the highlights of the first round was that Florida eliminated Jonah 79-74. The Gators will come forward to play Xavier in the second round. This game will become a crossover showdown after Florida coach Mike White left to get a job in Georgia and Xavier parted ways with coach Travis Steele.
In another NIT battle on Wednesday, Wake Forest put the disappointment of missing out on the NCAA tournament behind him by defeating Towson 74-64 in the first round. Dallas Walton led the Demon Deacons with 17 points and top scorers Alondes Williams and Jake LaRavia both had quiet attacking nights. Damari Monsantao added 14 points off the bench in just 13 minutes for Wake Forest, who advance to the second round to play VCU.
It was also a good night for the ACC brothers of Wake Forest, Virginia, as the Cavaliers outlasted Mississippi State 60–57. Dayton, SMU, Northern Iowa and BYU also moved forward Monday night as the march to Madison Square Garden continued.
Success at the NIT doesn’t always predict big things next season, but it can. Last season’s champion, Memphis, is playing in the NCAA Tournament this season. Baylor made the Sweet 16 in 2013 after the NIT title in 2012, and West Virginia did the same in 2007 after winning the NIT in 2006. Here is the complete list.
NIT Schedule for 2022
Second round
Saturday, March 19
Oregon at Texas A&M | 12:00 p.m. on ESPN
VCU in Wake Forest | 4:00 p.m. on ESPN+
Northern Iowa at BYU | 9:00 pm on ESPN+
Sunday, March 20
Florida in Xavier | 13:00 on ESPN
Dayton in Vanderbilt | 15:00 on ESPN2
SMU in Washington State | 3pm on ESPN+
Virginia in North Texas | 18:00 on ESPN+
Saint Bonaventure in Oklahoma | 20:00 at ESPNU
Quarterfinal
March 22-23
Semi-finals
March 29 at Madison Square Garden.
Championship
March 31 at Madison Square Garden.
First round results
Tuesday, March 15
(1) Oklahoma 89, Missouri Street 75
(3) VCU 90, Princeton 79
(4) Vanderbilt 82, Belmont 71
(2) North Texas 67, Texas Street 63
(2) Xavier 72, Cleveland St. 68
Oregon 83, (4) Utah Street 72
(1) Texas A&M 74, 62 Alcorn Street
St. Bonaventure 76, (4) Colorado 68
(4) 63 Washington Street, 50 Santa Clara
Wednesday, March 16
(1) Dayton 74, Toledo 55
(3) Wake Forest 74, Towson 64
Virginia 60, (3) Mississippi 57
North Iowa 60, (3) St. Louis 68
(1) SMU 68, Nicholls 58
(3) Florida 79, Iona 74
(2) BYU 93, Long Beach State 72