South Alabama coach Richie Riley explained the situation to AL.com, too. Riley said the Jaguars were offered a spot for NIT on Sunday night at 9:30 p.m. South Alabama ended up getting the invite because UC Riverside, who had received the invite first, had to decline to play in the College Basketball Invitation.

South Alabama's season is over after the team's NIT invitation was rescinded in a manner coach Richie Riley called "unacceptable."  Riley told AL.com he was informed late Sunday evening that his team had been invited to the NIT due to UC Riverside declining its invitation because of a previous commitment to play in the College Basketball Invitational,

South Alabama was Sun Belt regular-season co-champions this season, finishing in a four-way tie with Troy, James Madison and Arkansas State, but earning the No. 1 seed for the conference tournament. The Jaguars (21-11) lost in the semifinals of the Sun Belt tournament, with Troy winning and claiming the league’s sole “March Madness” bid.

The Bradley Braves men's basketball team meets the North Alabama Lions in the first round of the 2025 National Invitational Tournament at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Carver Arena in Peoria. The Braves (26-8) are in the NIT for the third season in a row and the 24th time overall in its history.