Tulsa and New Mexico meet in the NIT semifinals on Thursday, April 2, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. ET at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Tulsa went 13-5 in American play and enters with a 29-7 overall mark, while New Mexico finished 13-7 in the Mountain West and is 26-10 overall.
New Mexico opens as the favorite, laying 4.5 points with a total of 160.5. Odds as of 8:54 a.m. ET on March 29, 2026.
Odds
| Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|
| New Mexico -4.5 (-102) Tulsa +4.5 (-120) | New Mexico -178 Tulsa +146 | Over 160.5 (-110) Under 160.5 (-110) |
Team Snapshot
| Team | Record (Home/Away/Neutral) | Last 10 | ATS | Key Injury Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tulsa | 29-7 (16-2 / 8-4 / 5-1) | 9-1 | 17-16-0 | G T. Ford Jr. questionable (undisclosed) |
| New Mexico | 26-10 (17-3 / 7-5 / 2-2) | 6-4 | 20-14-0 | G Chris Howell questionable (wrist); G Kevin Patton Jr. questionable (undisclosed) |
Recent Form & Statistical Edge
Tulsa Golden Hurricane
Tulsa’s profile is built on efficient scoring and a real edge on the glass. Through 36 games, Tulsa is scoring 85.4 points per game while allowing 73.3 (+12.1 scoring margin), shooting 47.0% overall and 38.4% from 3. Defensively, opponents are at 42.6% from the field and 32.0% from 3.
Rebounding is the clearest path to extra possessions: Tulsa is +5.9 rebounds per game (38.7 vs 32.8). Ball security is steady rather than dominant (10.6 turnovers per game with a 0.0 turnover margin), so Tulsa’s best stretches tend to come when it wins the shot-volume battle with boards and made 3s.
New Mexico Lobos
New Mexico plays a cleaner-possession game than most teams in this matchup: 10.5 turnovers per game while forcing 13.6 (+3.1 turnover margin), plus 8.0 steals per game. Overall, the Lobos are scoring 81.5 and allowing 70.8 (+10.7), shooting 46.3% overall and 36.3% from 3.
The defensive 3-point numbers are strong (opponents at 30.0% from 3), which matters against a Tulsa team that makes 10.6 threes per game. On the glass New Mexico is solid (+2.6 rebound margin) but not as dominant as Tulsa, so the Lobos’ best counter is turning Tulsa empty on some possessions with pressure and clean closeouts.
Matchup Keys
- 3-point shot quality: Tulsa shoots 38.4% from 3, but New Mexico holds opponents to 30.0% from deep.
- Turnovers: New Mexico is +3.1 in turnover margin; Tulsa is essentially even. If the Lobos win this category, it can offset Tulsa’s rebounding edge.
- Rebounding margin: Tulsa is +5.9 per game versus New Mexico’s +2.6. Second-chance points are Tulsa’s most bankable path to separating.
- Free throws: Tulsa is at 77.9% at the line and makes 18.9 free throws per game, which can stabilize scoring if 3s are harder to come by on a neutral floor.
- Rest and travel: Both teams last played March 24 and will have eight days between games before traveling to Indianapolis.
Best Bet
Under 160.5 (-110)
A simple offense-defense blend points lower than the market: Tulsa’s games average 158.7 total points (85.4 scored, 73.3 allowed) and New Mexico’s average 152.3 (81.5 scored, 70.8 allowed). Both teams also defend the arc well (Tulsa allows 32.0% from 3; New Mexico allows 30.0%), which is important with two offenses that can score quickly when 3s are falling. If New Mexico’s turnover pressure reduces Tulsa’s clean catch-and-shoot volume, the most efficient scoring channel in this matchup gets narrower, and 160.5 becomes a high bar.
Projected Score
New Mexico 79, Tulsa 76 (155 total)
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