2025 NIT Second Round Recap: Major Upsets and Upcoming Quarterfinals
The second round of the 2025 National Invitation Tournament (NIT) took place on Sunday, March 23, showcasing a series of surprising outcomes. Among the highlights, No. 4 seed Oklahoma State managed to defeat the top-seeded SMU team with a final score of 85-83, thereby securing a spot in the quarterfinals. Oklahoma State’s guard delivered a stellar performance, leading the team with 24 points, supported by Abou Ousmane who added 18 points.
Another significant upset occurred when Loyola Chicago rallied to overcome No. 1 seed San Francisco, edging them out 77-76 thanks to a remarkable 35-point game from guard Jayden Dawson. Additionally, North Texas, the No. 2 seed, narrowly moved on with a 65-63 victory against Arkansas State, featuring a clutch jumper by guard Jasper Floyd with just 1.1 seconds left on the clock.
This upcoming quarterfinal match will see North Texas square off against Oklahoma State, with the stakes high for a chance to proceed to the semifinals at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Notably, Oklahoma State remains the sole representative from a power conference in the tournament following the unexpected defeat of No. 2 seed Stanford by Kent State.
2025 NIT Key Dates
Here are the important dates for the remainder of the NIT tournament:
- First Round: March 18-19
- Second Round: March 22-23
- Quarterfinals: March 25-26
- Semifinals: April 1 (Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indianapolis)
- Championship: April 3 (Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indianapolis)
Overview of the Tournament Rounds
SMU Region
First Round Results
- No. 1 SMU 73, Northern Iowa 63
- No. 2 North Texas 75, Furman 64
- No. 3 Arkansas State 103, Saint Louis 78
- No. 4 Oklahoma State 89, Wichita State 79
Second Round Results
- No. 2 North Texas 65, No. 3 Arkansas State 63
- No. 4 Oklahoma State 85, No. 1 SMU 83
Quarterfinal Matchup
No. 2 North Texas vs. No. 4 Oklahoma State | Tuesday, 9 p.m.
Dayton Region
First Round Results
- No. 1 Dayton 86, Florida Atlantic 79
- No. 2 George Mason 86, Samford 69
- No. 3 Bradley 71, North Alabama 62
- Chattanooga 109, No. 4 Middle Tennessee 103 (3OT)
Second Round Results
- No. 3 Bradley 75, No. 2 George Mason 67
- Chattanooga 87, No. 1 Dayton 72
Quarterfinal Matchup
No. 3 Bradley vs. Chattanooga | Tuesday, 7 p.m.
Irvine Region
First Round Results
- No. 1 UC Irvine 82, Northern Colorado 72
- No. 2 Santa Clara 101, UC Riverside 62
- UAB 69, No. 3 Saint Joseph’s 65
- Jacksonville State 81, No. 4 Georgia Tech 64
Second Round Results
- UAB 87, No. 2 Santa Clara 84
- No. 1 UC Irvine 66, Jacksonville State 61
Quarterfinal Matchup
No. 1 UC Irvine vs. UAB | Tuesday, 9 p.m.
San Francisco Region
First Round Results
- No. 1 San Francisco 79, Utah Valley 70
- No. 2 Stanford 87, CSUN 70
- Kent State 75, No. 3 St. Bonaventure 56
- Loyola Chicago 73, No. 4 San Jose State 70
Second Round Results
- Kent State 77, No. 2 Stanford 75
- Loyola Chicago 77, No. 1 San Francisco 76
Quarterfinal Matchup
Loyola Chicago vs. Kent State | Tuesday, 7 p.m.
