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.

After Sun Belt commissioner Keith Gill and NCAA senior vice president of basketball Dan Gavitt extended South Alabama an invite to the NIT [National Invitation Tournament] late Sunday night, it was rescinded an hour later in an embarrassing moment for the NCAA and a heartbreaking one for the South Alabama players.