Trevor Releford hit a go-ahead layup with 13 seconds to play to lead Alabama past Colorado, 61-60, in an NIT semifinal Tuesday at Madison Square Garden.

The Crimson Tide (25-11) advances to Thursday’s championship game against Wichita State.

Colorado’s Alec Burks missed a potential winning jumpshot from near the top of the key as time expired in a back-and-forth game between a pair of teams that believed they should have been playing in the NCAA tournament.

Alabama took a six-point lead into halftime and increased its lead to as much as 10 early in the second half. But Colorado stormed back behind Burks and a flurry of 3-pointers by Levi Knutson.

Knutson ht three of his four 3-pointers during a four-minute stretch that cut the Alabama lead to 46-44 with 13:52 to play.

The Buffaloes (24-14) were up by five with six minutes to play, but were unable to put away the Crimson Tide.

JaMychal Green had a game-high 22 points for Alabama.

Burks led Colorado with 20 points.