The Bradley Braves will play against the Dayton Flyers at Carver Arena in Peoria, IL. This game is part of the NIT Tournament and will take place on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at 9:00 PM ET. Fans can watch the game on ESPNU.
Bradley Braves finished the 2026 regular season with a 21-12 record and a 14-8 record in the Missouri Valley Conference. In their recent games, they won against Valparaiso and Murray State but lost to Northern Iowa. Last postseason, they won against North Alabama and George Mason but lost to Chattanooga.
Dayton Flyers ended their 2026 regular season with a 23-11 record and a 14-7 record in the Atlantic 10 Conference. Recently, they won against Saint Louis and St. Bonaventure but lost to VCU. In the 2025 postseason, they won against Florida Atlantic but lost to Chattanooga.
Dayton Preview
The Dayton Flyers are part of the Atlantic 10 Conference. In the 2025 postseason, they played two games. They won against Florida Atlantic with a score of 86-79. However, they lost to Chattanooga, 72-87.
During the 2026 regular season, the Flyers had an overall record of 23-11. Their conference record was 14-7. In recent games, they lost to VCU Rams by 8 points, with a score of 62-70. They also won against Saint Louis Billikens by 1 point, 70-69, and beat St. Bonaventure Bonnies by 5 points, 68-63.
The Flyers scored an average of 74.4 points per game in 2026. They attempted 53.6 field goals per game, making 44.6% of them. Their free throw percentage was 75.1, and they made 18.9 free throws per game. On defense, they had 8.4 steals and 4.0 blocks per game.
Javon Bennett was a key player, averaging 16.2 points per game. Jordan Derkack contributed with 9.6 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. Keonte Jones had 7.7 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. Amaël L’Etang added 12.1 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. These players helped the Flyers achieve a strong season.
Bradley Preview
The Bradley Braves play in the Missouri Valley Conference. During the 2026 regular season, they had an overall record of 21-12. In conference games, they finished with a 14-8 record. The team showed strong performance in their conference.
In the 2025 postseason, the Braves won two games before losing to Chattanooga. They defeated North Alabama 71-62 and George Mason 75-67. The close loss to Chattanooga ended their postseason run with a score of 65-67.
Recent games show mixed results for the Braves. They won against Valparaiso Beacons 90-84 and Murray State Racers 87-78. However, they lost to Northern Iowa Panthers 69-73. These games highlight their competitive nature.
Key players have contributed significantly to the team. Jaquan Johnson leads with 17.1 points per game, while Alex Huibregtse averages 12.6 points. Ahmet Jonovic adds strength with a shooting percentage of 53.1%. These players are vital to the Braves’ success.
Statistical Breakdown for Dayton vs Bradley
The game between the Dayton Flyers and Bradley Braves will likely be shaped by their scoring and defensive abilities. The Flyers score 74.4 points per game, while the Braves average 77.6 points. Both teams have strong free throw shooting, with Dayton at 75.1% and Bradley at 73.3%. On defense, Dayton averages 8.4 steals and 4.0 blocks per game, which could challenge Bradley’s offense. Bradley’s key players like Jaquan Johnson and Alex Huibregtse will need to perform well against Dayton’s defense.
- Dayton Flyers Points Per Game: 74.4
- Bradley Braves Points Per Game: 77.6
- Dayton Flyers Free Throw Percentage: 75.1%
- Bradley Braves Free Throw Percentage: 73.3%
- Dayton Flyers Steals Per Game: 8.4
- Dayton Flyers Blocks Per Game: 4.0
- Key Player for Dayton: Javon Bennett (16.2 PPG)
- Key Player for Bradley: Jaquan Johnson (17.1 PPG)
Betting Insights
The Bradley Braves and Dayton Flyers have shown different betting patterns. Bradley has been strong straight up, especially as favorites, but less so against the spread. Dayton has been reliable in over/under bets, particularly in recent games. Here are the top betting trends to consider for this game:
- Bradley is 85.7% straight up as favorites.
- Dayton is 71.4% against the spread as underdogs.
- Dayton is 80.0% over in their last 10 games.
- Bradley is 0.0% over in their last 5 games.
- Bradley is 80.0% straight up in their last 10 games.
Free Betting Prediction for Dayton vs Bradley
The game between the Dayton Flyers and Bradley Braves is expected to be close. Dayton has a slight edge as the favorite, but Bradley’s recent performances show they can compete well. Dayton’s strong defense with 8.4 steals and 4.0 blocks per game could challenge Bradley’s offense.
Bradley’s scoring average of 77.6 points per game is higher than Dayton’s 74.4 points. This suggests they might have an advantage in scoring. However, Dayton’s ability to perform well against the spread as underdogs could make a difference in this game.
Considering the betting trends, Dayton’s recent success in over/under bets and Bradley’s strong straight-up performance are key factors. The game could be decided by how well each team executes their strengths. Dayton’s slight edge as the favorite might give them the win.
- Our Free Prediction: Dayton -1.5
