Nevada’s season ends with 79-65 quarterfinal loss to Auburn in NIT

Nevada ran into a tough Auburn team and saw its season come to an end Wednesday night.

The Tigers beat the Wolf Pack, 75-69, in the NIT men’s basketball quarterfinals, at Neville Arena, in Auburn, Ala.

Nevada ends its season at 24-13 overall (12 -8 in the Mountain West). Auburn improved to 20-16 overall (7-11 SEC) and will play Illinois State in the NIT semifinals on April 2 (6:30 p.m.) in Indianapolis, Ind. The NIT championship is set for April 5 in Indianapolis.

In the other NIT semifinal, New Mexico will play Tulsa, also on April 2 at 4 p.m.

In Wednesday’s game, Nevada sophomore Elijah Price had a double-double with 22 points and 11 rebounds. Both were game highs. Price made 9-of-13 free throws and 6-of-7 field goals. Vaughn Weems had 15 points and Corey Camper Jr. had 13.

Auburn had four players in double figures led by Filip Jovic with 18. Tahaad Pettiford had 16 points, Elyjah Freeman had 16 and Keyshawn Hall, who started his college career at UNLV in 2022-23, had 14.

Nevada battled back after trailing by 12 at the half (38-26), thanks to better long-range shooting in the second half.

Key Stats

Nevada shot 46 percent from the field (25-of-54) and 7-of-20 from 3-point range. The Pack hit 5-of-7 from the arc in the second half after hitting 2-of-13 in the first half.

Auburn shot 49 percent (30-of-61), but was just 1-of- 8 from the arc in the second half.

Nevada outscored Auburn, 43-37, in the second half.

The Wolf Pack was 12-of-17 from the free throw line and the Tigers were 9-of-14.

Nevada had 12 turnovers, to seven for Auburn.

Each team had 31 rebounds.

The Tigers had nine steals, to four for the Wolf Pack.

Nevada coach Steve Alford has 724 career wins.

First Half

Auburn led, 38-26, at the half after committing just one turnover in the first half.

Nevada made 2-of-13 from 3-point range in the first half.

Seniors

Nevada loses five seniors from this season’s team: Joel Armotrading, Jeriah Coleman, Corey Camper Jr., Tayshawn Comer and Kaleb Lowery.