The University of Dayton Flyers will finally break a 16-year drought of hosting National Invitation Tournament (NIT) games when they welcome Illinois State to UD Arena on Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET for the NIT quarterfinals. This game not only marks the Flyers’ first home NIT contest since 2010 — ironically against the same opponent, Illinois State — but also carries significant weight as the winner will advance to the NIT semifinals at the historic Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on April 2. There, they will face the winner of the Nevada-Auburn game, which tips off shortly after Dayton’s matchup.
The long gap without hosting an NIT game is a result of several factors beyond Dayton’s control. Since 2011, when the NCAA Tournament introduced the “First Four” play-in games, those early-round contests have been held at Dayton’s home court, UD Arena, during the same days the NIT first-round games take place. This scheduling overlap prevented the Flyers from hosting NIT games on those dates. Additionally, the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) has regularly used UD Arena for its state semifinal and championship basketball games. These events have further restricted Dayton’s ability to serve as a host for NIT contests over the past decade. In fact, in 2022 and 2025, Dayton would have hosted NIT second-round games if not for conflicts with high school basketball tournaments.
Despite the challenges of hosting, Dayton’s performance in this year’s NIT has been impressive. The Flyers entered the tournament with a 25-11 record and a 17-19 ATS (against the spread) mark. They advanced to the quarterfinals after strong road victories, including a 14-point win at Bradley and a 19-point win over UNC Wilmington, the Colonial Athletic Association regular-season champions. Dayton’s veteran leadership shines through, with junior guard De’Shayne Montgomery recently becoming the fourth player this season to reach 1,000 career points. Montgomery has also made a mark defensively, ranking third in school history with 77 steals this season and just seven shy of the single-season school record.
Under the guidance of coach Anthony Grant, Dayton is known for its stout defense. The Flyers rank fifth in the Atlantic 10 in points allowed per game, giving up just 69.5 points on average. Notably, they have not allowed an opponent to reach 80 points since February 18 and have held six consecutive opponents to 70 points or fewer. Nationally, their defense is formidable, standing 30th in adjusted defensive efficiency at 99.6. Dayton leads the Atlantic 10 and ranks 24th in the country in turnovers forced per game with an average of 14.31, and they are also 37th nationally in steals per game, averaging 8.72. The Flyers’ offensive performance is closely tied to their success; when scoring at least 70 points, they have a strong 21-6 record, compared to just 4-5 when scoring less than 70. This season, the team’s total points line for Wednesday’s game is set at 73.5. Dayton also excels at drawing fouls, getting to the free throw line more frequently than most teams nationally. When leading with five minutes remaining in regulation, the Flyers boast a perfect 23-0 record, though their record drops to 1-9 when trailing late in games.
Illinois State enters the game as the fourth seed and brings momentum after knocking off the top seed in the NIT region, Wake Forest. The Redbirds upset Wake Forest on the road in the second round, winning 78-75 despite being 7.5-point underdogs. This victory handed Dayton the opportunity to host the quarterfinal, as Wake Forest’s exit opened the door for the Flyers to play at home, where they have been dominant with a 14-3 record this season. For Dayton’s four seniors, this game provides a chance to extend their home postseason experience after what was thought to be their last home game in a close loss to VCU on March 6.
The Redbirds’ thrilling win over Wake Forest was capped by Johnny Kinziger’s go-ahead three-pointer with two seconds remaining. Illinois State had trailed by nine points in the second half but rallied to secure their first victory over an ACC opponent since December 2006. Illinois State has won two N