NIT Quarterfinals: Saint Joseph’s vs New Mexico Preview, Odds, Predictions (March 24)
- The Hawks took down California in the second round.
- The Lobos got past George Washington in the Round of 16.
- This marks the third all-time matchup between the two squads.
The second round of the 2026 NIT the remains present throughout the night hours of the March 24 schedule as the Saint Joseph’s Hawks take on the New Mexico Lobos. The latter stands tall as the solid favorite, creating a potential upset scenario as Saint Joseph’s fights with New Mexico for a spot in the semifinals.
How to Watch
- When: Tuesday, March 24, 9 pm ET
- Where: The Pit, Albuquerque, New Mexico
- How to Watch: ESPN2
NCAA Matchup Odds & Lines
| Team | Odds | Spread | Totals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Joseph’s | -115 | +11 | O155 |
| New Mexico | -105 | -11 | U155 |
Game Preview
The Hawks (24-11) hope to continue their journey in the NIT, stunning Colorado State in the first round and beating down California in the second round. Jaiden Glover-Toscano led the Hawks with 24 points as he connected on four threes, tying Langston Galloway for seventh on the SJU single-season list with 90. Dasear Haskins had his fourth double-double of the season with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Derek Simpson also stuffed the stat sheet with 10 points, six rebounds and seven assists.
The Lobos (25-10) are making a strong effort to make a deep run in the NIT, pulling off an upset over Sam Houston and taking down George Washington in the Round of 16. They reached the NIT quarterfinals for the ninth time in history (first since 2001), and reached the 25-win mark for the third straight season (second time in program history, also 2012-14). Jake Hall led the Lobos with 19 points, highlighted by 4-6 shooting from deep. Uriah Tenette had 15 points and six assists. Tomislav Buljan just missed a double-double with 14 points and nine rebounds, while Tajavis Miller added 10 points off the bench.
Saint Joseph’s vs New Mexico Head-to-Head
The two programs have had two meetings in their history, and the result is 1-1 for both teams. The last matchup took place in December 1999 as Saint Joseph’s won 81-76 on the road.
Saint Joseph’s vs New Mexico Predictions
The winner of this quarterfinal matchup will take on the victors between Wichita State and Tulsa in the semifinals. It has been a long time since 1999 when both teams dueled against one another, showing their first matchup in 27 years. Both teams have plenty at stake with a spot in the semifinals on the line, which New Mexico might have the better edge with stronger talent on both sides of the ball. Our betting pick here is for the Lobos to defend a 11-point spread.
- Free NCAAB pick:Â New Mexico Lobos -11
