2026 NIT Bracket (PDF)
 
INDIANAPOLIS – For the second consecutive year, Conference USA will be represented by two teams in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT). Liberty will travel to No. 3 George Mason, while Sam Houston will head west to take on No. 1 New Mexico.
 
The Flames (25-7) will face No. 3 George Mason (23-8) at 5 p.m. CT Tuesday at the EagleBank Arena in Fairfax, Va., on ESPN2. The Bearkats (22-11) are set to travel to Albuquerque to take on Mountain West foe No. 1 New Mexico (23-10) on Wednesday at 8 p.m. CT on ESPN+.
 
Liberty earned its second NIT bid in program history after appearing in 2023. The Flames are led by CUSA Player of the Year Zach Cleveland who averaged 12.7 points, 6.4 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game during league action.
 
Sam Houston will appear in the NIT for the third time in the program's history after falling short in the CUSA semifinals on Friday. Graduate guard Kashie Natt was stellar in two tournament games last week averaging 15.0 points and 14.5 rebounds.
 
The NIT, a 32-team postseason event, will be played March 17-18 (first-round), March 21-22 (second-round) and March 24-25 (quarterfinals), with the highest-seeded teams hosting games at campus sites. The NIT semifinals will be played at Hinkle Fieldhouse on April 2, while the final will take place at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on April 5 at 7 p.m. CT.