Auburn’s hopes of reaching the NIT semifinals for the first time in its history ended in a New York minute Tuesday night.

Rasheem Barrett’s 3-pointer at the horn drifted left and long, bouncing high off the rim and into the arms of a Baylor defender as the Bears cemented a thrilling 74-72 victory at Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum to advance to the National Invitation Tournament semifinals in New York City.

Baylor (23-14) will play against the winner of San Diego State and St. Mary’s at Madison Square Garden next Tuesday.

“Any time you have a game you lose by two points, that hurts more than losing by 30,” said Barrett, a senior who scored a team-high 16 points in his final college game.

LaceDarius Dunn scored a game-high 19 points and Curtis Jerrells added 16 for the Bears, who won their first postseason game in 59 years last week and have reeled off victories in six of their last seven.

The loss ended a season in which Auburn (24-12) tied for the second most wins in school history and made the postseason for the first time in the Jeff Lebo era, ending a five-year drought.

“That’s why basketball is so hard in tournament play,” Lebo said. “Most teams leave the court with a loss and it’s hard. It’s not like a bowl game where half the teams win. So it’s always hard on the seniors because you always leave with that disappointment.”