LAS VEGAS - Conference USA's torrid offseason continued, as both North Texas (30-7) and UAB (29-9) set up an all-C-USA NIT final by dispatching Wisconsin and Utah Valley, respectively, Tuesday from the Orleans Arena. The Mean Green opened the evening with a stifling second half defensive performance, coming back from a 14-point first half deficit and holding Wisconsin scoreless for the final 9:07 to win 56-54 over the Badgers. UAB then prevailed in overtime, 88-86 over the Wolverines in order to set up the fourth-ever NIT championship game featuring conference mates (2003 - Big East, 1998 - Big Ten and 1979 - Big Ten).

North Texas withstood a hot shooting start by Wisconsin, and trailed by 12 at the break. The second half was the story however, as the Mean Green held the Badgers to just 13 points on 6-25 shooting (24.0%) the rest of the way, including a scoreless streak of the final 9:07 and offensively UNT rode a 10-0 run over the final 6:12 to pull off the victory. 

Three Mean Green players scored in double figures and UNT was led by C-USA Player of the Year Tylor Perry, who scored a game-high 16 points to go along with five rebounds and three steals. Kai Huntsberry and Rubin Jones each chipped in 12 apiece for North Texas, who led for just 2:07. Moulay Sissoko hit what turned out to be the game-winning bucket, and finished with seven points (on 3-4 shooting), six rebounds and a pair of steals in the win.

UAB outlasted Utah Valley and the Blazers were led by senior forward Ty Brewer, who equaled a career-high with 30 points, while also adding 12 rebounds and five steals. Brewer was fantastic for UAB, shooting 13-17 from the field, including 4-5 from three, while hauling in four offensive boards. All-Conference USA selection Jordan "Jelly" Walker finished with 17 points, six assists and five rebounds, and knocked down three clutch free throws down the stretch in overtime.

The Blazers led by as many as 10 in the first half, and maintained a lead for nearly 42 minutes of the 45, but the Wolverines would not go away. UAB's bench outscored Utah Valley 25-14, and forced 15 Wolverine turnovers to hold on for the win.

North Texas and UAB are now slated to meet for the fourth time this season, with the Mean Green taking both regular season matchups and UAB knocking the Mean Green out of the conference tournament in the semifinals. The first regular season meeting did not include UAB's Walker, and the other two games were decided by a combined 10 points, including a double overtime win by the Mean Green in Denton back on Feb. 9. The Mean Green and Blazers will battle once more in 2022-23, for the NIT title, on Thursday night at 8:40 p.m. CT on ESPN2 from Orleans Arena.

With a guaranteed NIT champion, Conference USA improved to 17-1 as a league during the postseason tournaments. Florida Atlantic is in the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament (4-0) and takes on San Diego State on Saturday night in Houston, UAB and North Texas are a combined 8-0, and Charlotte won four games to win the CBI last week. Rice went 1-1 in the CBI to round out the 17-1 mark. No conference has ever won all three postseason tournaments in the same season.