Out of the four teams playing in the NIT semifinals in Las Vegas on Tuesday, three are mid-majors. Two mid-majors, UAB and Utah Valley, will clash in the second semifinal.
UAB moved ahead in Vegas by defeating Vanderbilt 67-59 on the road, with Jordan Walker leading the way with 21 points. Utah Valley secured its place in the Final Four by beating Cincinnati 74-68, with Justin Harmon scoring 17 points.
Utah Valley had never won an NIT game before this year, when 28 wins became a program record. Justin Harmon has averaged around 22.3 points and 5.0 rebounds during the current NIT run.
UAB had won two home games before defeating Vanderbilt on the road. Utah Valley won both of their first two road games, defeating Colorado and New Mexico. The semifinals clash was broadcasted live on ESPN and ESPN2 on Tuesday night.
The game was intense and came down to the wire, with the lead changing multiple times. Brewer from Utah Valley made a key play with a heavily contested shot to take the lead. UAB ultimately won with a narrow 2-point victory, advancing to the championship game.
