Tulsa Beats Wichita State 83-79 in NIT Quarterfinals

The NIT quarterfinals delivered one of the most dramatic games of the 2026 college basketball postseason when Tulsa edged Wichita State 83-79 on March 24, 2026. What looked like a blowout at halftime turned into a nail-biter as the Shockers mounted a stunning second-half comeback — only to fall short in the final minutes. Whether you're a die-hard fan of either program or just a casual college basketball watcher, this game had everything: dominant shooting, clutch performances, and a finish that will be debated in both cities for years.

Below, we break down every key factor that decided this game — from individual performances to shooting splits — so you can understand exactly how Tulsa punched its ticket to the NIT semifinals and why Wichita State's season came to a heartbreaking end.

Miles Barnstable — Tulsa's Offensive Catalyst

Overview

When Tulsa needed a scorer to set the tone, Miles Barnstable answered emphatically. He finished as the game's leading scorer with 24 points and was the primary reason Tulsa built an insurmountable first-half lead.

• Points: 24
• Field goals: 6-of-15 from the field
• Three-point shooting: 5-of-9 from beyond the arc
• Role: Primary perimeter scorer and momentum driver

Pros

• Elite three-point efficiency — 55.6% from deep in a high-stakes game
• Consistent scoring kept Wichita State's comeback attempts at bay
• Big-game mentality on full display in the NIT quarterfinals

Cons

• Only 6-of-15 overall from the field shows some inefficiency outside the three-point line
• Wichita State's defense forced enough misses to keep the game within reach

Impact Rating: 9.5/10 — Barnstable's performance was the defining individual effort of the game. CBS Sports credited him as the catalyst in Tulsa's victory.

Tylen Riley — Tulsa's Complete Two-Way Threat

Overview

If Barnstable was the firepower, Tylen Riley was the engine. His all-around stat line — 21 points, six rebounds, and six assists — gave Tulsa a playmaker who could hurt Wichita State in multiple ways simultaneously.

• Points: 21
• Rebounds: 6
• Assists: 6
• Role: Primary facilitator and secondary scorer

Pros

• Near triple-double production in a pressure postseason setting
• Versatility forced Wichita State's defense to account for him at all three levels
• Kept Tulsa organized offensively during Wichita State's second-half surge

Cons

• Didn't fully suppress Wichita State's comeback — the Shockers still took a lead with 6:34 left
• Assist-to-turnover ratio not detailed in box score reports

Impact Rating: 9/10 — Riley's line was arguably the most well-rounded of any player on either team, and his floor-raising presence complemented Barnstable's ceiling-raising explosiveness perfectly.

TJ Williams — Wichita State's Valiant Leader

Overview

On the losing side, TJ Williams gave Wichita State everything he had. His 19-point, eight-rebound night was the backbone of the Shockers' second-half comeback, and he was the reason the game got as close as it did.

• Points: 19
• Rebounds: 8
• Role: Interior anchor and comeback leader

Pros

• Double-double threat kept Wichita State competitive on the boards
• Provided a reliable interior scoring option when three-pointers weren't falling
• Resilient second-half effort helped WSU erase a 16-point deficit

Cons

• Couldn't sustain the lead once WSU finally took it at the 6:34 mark
• Limited by teammates' cold shooting — Wichita State went 2-of-19 from three

Impact Rating: 8/10 — Yahoo Sports noted WSU's roaring comeback, and Williams was at the center of it. A great season-closing performance in a losing effort.

Dillon Battie — Wichita State's Interior Spark

Overview

Dillon Battie provided a secondary punch for the Shockers, scoring 17 points while pulling down seven rebounds. His effort kept WSU in the fight during stretches when Tulsa threatened to pull away again.

• Points: 17
• Rebounds: 7
• Role: Secondary scorer and rebounding support

Pros

• Efficient scoring helped compensate for WSU's horrid three-point shooting
• Seven rebounds contributed to keeping possession battles competitive
• Paired well with Williams to give WSU a credible inside game

Cons

• Couldn't overcome the team's 2-of-19 showing from beyond the arc
• The team's two-man reliance on Williams and Battie was ultimately too easy for Tulsa to scheme against

Impact Rating: 7.5/10 — Battie was solid, but Wichita State needed more from its supporting cast to close out a win against a Tulsa team that finished the season 29-7 according to ESPN.

Karon Boyd — Wichita State's Perimeter Contributor

Overview

Karon Boyd rounded out Wichita State's top performers with 13 points and six rebounds. As a perimeter-oriented player, Boyd's night reflected the team's broader struggles: points came, but not in the ways WSU needed most.

• Points: 13
• Rebounds: 6
• Role: Perimeter scorer and secondary rebounder

Pros

• Double-digit scoring provided depth beyond the Williams-Battie pairing
• Six rebounds from a perimeter player is a strong secondary contribution

Cons

• Shooting efficiency questionable given WSU's overall 2-of-19 from three as a team
• Scoring came too late and too infrequently to sustain the comeback after WSU took the lead

Impact Rating: 6.5/10 — Boyd was a contributor but not a difference-maker. The Wichita Eagle described the season-ending loss as one built on WSU climbing from a deep hole — and Boyd's contributions were part of that climb, even if the summit proved unreachable.

Tulsa's Three-Point Shooting — The Game's Defining Team Factor

Overview

Beyond individual performers, the single most decisive team factor in this game was the three-point shooting disparity. Tulsa shot 41% from beyond the arc. Wichita State shot 10.5% (2-of-19). That gap — 30-plus percentage points — is nearly impossible to overcome at any level of basketball.

• Tulsa 3PT%: 41%
• Wichita State 3PT%: 10.5% (2-of-19)
• Barnstable alone: 5-of-9 from three

Pros (for Tulsa)

• Created the 52-36 halftime lead that WSU spent the entire second half trying to erase
• Barnstable's hot hand from deep demoralized WSU's defense early
• Spacing opened lanes for Riley's facilitating game

Cons (the caveat)

• 41% from three is not sustainable across a full season — Tulsa benefited from a hot shooting night
• WSU's defense did force enough misses to keep the overall field goal percentage manageable

Impact Rating: 10/10 — This was the game within the game. If Wichita State shoots even 25% from three, this is a different result entirely.

Wichita State's Second-Half Comeback — Heart Without the Finish

Overview

Down 52-36 at halftime, Wichita State did something remarkable: they came all the way back to take the lead with 6:34 remaining. Over 100 Shocker fans had bused from Wichita to Tulsa to watch, and for a brief moment, they were celebrating. Then the final five minutes happened.

• Deficit erased: 16 points
• Lead taken: With 6:34 remaining in the second half
• Field goals in final 5 minutes: Only 2

Pros

• One of the most dramatic halftime-to-lead comebacks of the NIT tournament
• Demonstrated real character and depth from the Shockers' roster
• A crowd of 100+ traveling fans got a genuine moment of hope

Cons

• Only two field goals in the final five minutes — the offense went ice cold at the worst possible time
• The three-point shooting woes caught up with them when every possession mattered most

Impact Rating: 8/10 for effort, 4/10 for execution in crunch time — The comeback was inspiring. The finish was not. This rivalry between the programs has now produced four memorable meetings, and this one will sting for WSU fans for a long time.

Head-to-Head Comparison Summary

Factor	Tulsa	Wichita State
Final Score	83	79
Top Scorer	Barnstable (24 pts)	TJ Williams (19 pts)
3PT Shooting	41%	10.5% (2-of-19)
Halftime Score	52	36
Season Record	29-7	24-12
Comeback Attempt	N/A	Took lead at 6:34 remaining
Late-Game Execution	Held on to win	2 FGs in final 5 minutes

FAQ: Tulsa vs. Wichita State NIT Quarterfinals

What was the final score of the Tulsa vs. Wichita State NIT game?

Tulsa defeated Wichita State 83-79 in the NIT quarterfinals on March 24, 2026. The game was played in Tulsa, and despite a significant Wichita State comeback in the second half, Tulsa held on for the win and advanced to the NIT semifinals.

Who were the best players in the game?

Miles Barnstable led all scorers with 24 points (5-of-9 from three) for Tulsa, while Tylen Riley added a near triple-double with 21 points, six rebounds, and six assists. For Wichita State, TJ Williams posted 19 points and eight rebounds, and Dillon Battie added 17 points and seven boards.

Why did Wichita State lose despite taking the lead in the second half?

The Shockers went ice cold in the final five minutes, making only two field goals down the stretch. Their three-point shooting — a dismal 2-of-19 for the game — was ultimately the fatal flaw. Tulsa shot 41% from three, which built the halftime cushion WSU spent the entire second half trying to overcome.

What do the final season records tell us about both programs?

Tulsa finished an impressive 29-7, a season that reflects a legitimate program on the rise. Wichita State ended at 24-12, which despite the disappointing finish is still a winning season and a sign the program remains competitive at the mid-major level. Both teams' NIT runs in 2026 suggest neither is far from NCAA Tournament contention in coming years.

Postgame Analysis: What Fans Should Take Away

If you watched this game — or are trying to understand it in retrospect — here's what the numbers and the narrative actually tell you:

• Don't abandon a game at halftime. A 16-point deficit was wiped out entirely. Wichita State's comeback was real and should have won.
• Three-point shooting wins and loses games at this level. The 30-percentage-point gap between Tulsa and WSU from beyond the arc was simply too large to overcome, even with a brilliant interior effort from Williams and Battie.
• Barnstable is the real deal. A 5-of-9 showing from three in a quarterfinal tells you this isn't a fluke — Tulsa has a shooter who rises in big moments.
• Watch Tulsa in the NIT semifinals. A 29-7 team that can shoot 41% from three and has a versatile facilitator in Riley is a genuine threat to win the whole tournament.
• Wichita State's season was a success despite the loss. Twenty-four wins, an NIT berth, and a second-half comeback that nearly stunned a 29-win program — there's a solid foundation in Wichita heading into next season.

"Wichita State climbed from a deep hole, then fell in a season-ending loss at Tulsa" — Wichita Eagle

Both fan bases have reason to feel something after this one. Tulsa fans should feel pride in a remarkable season and anticipation for a semifinal run. Wichita State fans who made that bus trip from Kansas — more than 100 of them — got to watch their team fight all the way to the final seconds. That's not nothing. That's college basketball at its best.