The Illinois State Redbirds will take on the Dayton Flyers in the NIT Tournament. This postseason game will be held at UD Arena in Dayton, OH. Fans can catch the action on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at 7:00 PM ET on ESPN2.
Illinois State comes into this game with a regular-season record of 20-12. They have shown strong postseason performance by winning against Presbyterian, Incarnate Word, and Cleveland State. The Redbirds are part of the Missouri Valley Conference.
Dayton, from the Atlantic 10 Conference, finished their regular season with a 23-11 record. In the 2025 postseason, they won against Florida Atlantic but fell to Chattanooga. The Flyers will look to leverage their home-court advantage in this tournament game.
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 with a score of 72-87.
During the 2026 regular season, the Flyers had a record of 23-11. In their conference games, they went 14-7. Their offensive stats show they scored 74.4 points per game. They had 67.0 possessions per game and made 18.9 free throws per game, ranking them 20th in that category.
In the postseason, the Flyers improved their scoring to 80.0 points per game. They had a field goal percentage of 51.9, which was 6th overall. Their three-point percentage was 41.9, placing them 14th. They also had 17.0 free throws made per game, ranking 14th.
Javon Bennett was a key player, averaging 16.2 points per game in the regular season. Keonte Jones contributed with 7.7 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. In the postseason, Amaël L’Etang averaged 11.0 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. De’Shayne Montgomery also scored 17.0 points per game in the postseason.
Illinois State Preview
The Illinois State Redbirds play in the Missouri Valley Conference. In the 2026 regular season, they had a record of 20 wins and 12 losses. Their conference record was 12 wins and 9 losses. This performance shows they are competitive in their conference.
In the 2025 postseason, the Redbirds won three games. They defeated Presbyterian 78-70, Incarnate Word 78-73, and Cleveland State 79-68. These victories highlight their ability to perform well in important games.
During the 2026 regular season, the Redbirds scored an average of 75.1 points per game. They attempted 57.6 field goals per game with a shooting percentage of 46.7. Their effective field goal percentage was 54.2, which ranks them 79th.
Defensively, the Redbirds averaged 5.7 steals and 2.3 blocks per game. They committed 16.8 fouls per game. These stats indicate areas where they might improve to strengthen their defense further.
Statistical Breakdown for Dayton vs Illinois State
The game between the Dayton Flyers and Illinois State Redbirds will be influenced by several key stats. Dayton’s strong postseason shooting, with a field goal percentage of 51.9 and a three-point percentage of 41.9, will be important. Illinois State’s postseason scoring of 78.5 points per game and their ability to make 11.5 three-pointers per game are factors to watch. Both teams have shown they can score, so defense might be the deciding factor.
- Dayton Flyers Postseason Points Per Game: 80.0
- Dayton Flyers Postseason Field Goal Percentage: 51.9
- Dayton Flyers Postseason Three-Point Percentage: 41.9
- Illinois State Redbirds Postseason Points Per Game: 78.5
- Illinois State Redbirds Postseason Three-Pointers Made Per Game: 11.5
- Dayton Flyers Regular Season Free Throws Made Per Game: 18.9
- Illinois State Redbirds Regular Season Field Goal Percentage: 46.7
Betting Insights
As Illinois State Redbirds take on the Dayton Flyers, bettors have several trends to consider. Both teams have shown different strengths in their recent games. Illinois State has been strong as an underdog against the spread, while Dayton has a solid record in games going over the total. Here are the top betting trends for this game:
- Illinois State is 13-3 ATS as an underdog (81.2%).
- Dayton is 22-9 on the Over/Under in all games (71.0%).
- Dayton is 4-1 SU in their last 5 games (80.0%).
- Illinois State is 19-13-1 ATS in all games (57.6%).
- Dayton is 8-2 on the Over/Under in their last 10 games (80.0%).
Free Betting Prediction for Dayton vs Illinois State
The Dayton Flyers have shown strong offensive skills, especially in the postseason. Their field goal and three-point percentages are impressive. Javon Bennett and De’Shayne Montgomery are key players who can score well. Dayton’s ability to score over 80 points in the postseason shows they can handle pressure.
Illinois State Redbirds also have a solid offense. They score over 75 points per game in the regular season. Their postseason performance shows they can score 78.5 points per game. The Redbirds’ ability to make 11.5 three-pointers per game is a strength. However, their defense might struggle against Dayton’s strong shooting.
Considering both teams’ strengths, Dayton seems to have an edge. Their shooting accuracy and postseason performance make them a tough opponent. Illinois State’s defense might not be enough to stop Dayton’s offense. The Flyers are likely to win, but Illinois State could keep it close.
- Our Free Prediction: Illinois State +6.5
