SMU Headed to NIT Postseason Tournament

SMU’s men’s basketball team didn’t end the regular season on a high note and was one-and-done in the American Athletic Conference championship tournament.

But there’s still a chance for Mustangs to end the season on a high note.

SMU (20-12, 11-7 AAC) accepted a bid to the National Invitation Tournament and will face No. 1 seed Indiana State (28-6) in the first round of the tournament Wednesday at 6 p.m. The winner will face the winner of No. 4 seed Butler and Minnesota’s first round game.

Indiana State won the Missouri Valley Conference regular season title but fell to Drake 84-80 in the MVC tournament championship game on Sunday.

The Sycamores are averaging 84.4 points per game and held opponents to 72 ppg. Robbie Avila leads Indiana State in scoring, averaging 17.5 ppg and has made 41 percent of his three-point shot attempts. Isaiah Swope and Ryan Conwell are both averaging more than 16 ppg. Jayson Kent is the team’s leading rebounder with an average of 8.1 rebounds per game.

The NIT is a 32-team tournament, with this year's semifinals and championship being held at the famous Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind. The championship is set for April 4 at 6 p.m. on ESPN

SMU and Indiana State’s first round matchup Wednesday will air on ESPN+.