Men's Basketball Welcomes Illinois State For NIT Quarterfinal The University of Dayton Flyers will host Illinois State in the NIT quarterfinals at UD Arena on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at 7 p.m. ET. The matchup pits Dayton (25-11, 12-6 A-10) against Illinois State (22-12, 12-8 MVC), with the game airing on ESPN2. The Flyers will look to continue their strong performance in the tournament after securing a decisive victory over the UNCW Seahawks in their previous round. Dayton erased a 10-point halftime deficit to defeat UNCW 80-61 in a sold-out Trask Coliseum on Saturday. The Flyers’ second-half surge was highlighted by the standout play of junior guard De'Shayne Montgomery, who became the fourth Dayton player to reach 1,000 career points this season. Montgomery contributed 20 points, along with three steals, two assists, and two rebounds, leading the team to their second road win in the NIT. Dayton’s defense also held UNCW to just 3-of-21 shooting from beyond the three-point line, limiting the Seahawks’ offensive efficiency. Illinois State, meanwhile, advanced to the quarterfinals after a dramatic road win over No. 1 seed Wake Forest. The Redbirds hit a game-winning three-pointer with 2 seconds remaining to secure the victory. This win added to Illinois State’s strong season, which includes a 12-8 record in the MVC. The matchup against Dayton will test both teams’ ability to maintain momentum in a high-stakes tournament setting. Montgomery’s milestone achievement underscores his growing impact on the Flyers’ success. His 8-of-13 shooting performance against UNCW demonstrated his ability to carry the team in critical moments. With Dayton’s balanced attack and defensive focus, the Flyers aim to build on their recent success as they face Illinois State in the next round of the NIT.#ud_arena #university_of_dayton #illinois_state #nit_quarterfinals #trask_coliseum
Dayton Flyers Set for NIT Quarterfinals Against Illinois State The University of Dayton Flyers will host Illinois State in the quarterfinals of the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) at UD Arena, marking their first NIT home game since 2010. The Flyers advanced to this round by defeating Bradley and North Carolina Wilmington by a combined score of 33 points. Illinois State secured its spot with a 78-75 victory over No. 1 seed Wake Forest in the previous round. For fans planning to attend the game, key details include the start time of 7:00 p.m. and the location at UD Arena, 1801 S. Edwin C. Moses Blvd., Dayton, OH, 45417. Season-ticket holders had until Monday at 11:59 p.m. to claim their assigned seats, after which all unclaimed tickets became available for purchase by the general public. The event is open to all, with lower-arena tickets priced at $36.50 and upper-arena tickets at $18.50. Attendees are encouraged to add digital tickets to their mobile wallets to avoid delays at entry, as internet connectivity may be slow during high-traffic periods. The ticket office can be reached at 937-229-4433 for inquiries, with normal hours from Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Parking options include reserved lots A and C, available for $12.50 online, and arena lot parking for $5 per vehicle for non-season ticket holders. Parking in the Carillon neighborhood or at the Courtyard by Marriott hotel is prohibited. Traffic is expected to be heavy on I-75 and local roads near Edwin C. Moses Blvd., so fans are advised to plan for delays. The game will enforce strict rules on prohibited items, including firearms, weapons, food and drinks, strollers, signs larger than 8.#ud_arena #university_of_dayton #dayton_flyers #illinois_state #national_invitation_tournament
Miami Ohio Proves Doubters Wrong with March Madness Victory PHILADELPHIA – Miami (Ohio) men’s basketball made a strong statement in the First Four of the NCAA Tournament, defeating SMU 89-79 at UD Arena in Dayton. The win silenced critics who questioned the Mid-American Conference team’s place in the 68-team field, as the RedHawks entered the tournament with a 31-0 regular-season record and a first-ever at-large bid in program history. Coach Travis Steele emphasized that the team’s focus remains on proving their worth to themselves rather than external skeptics. “We know how good we are. We know we deserve this opportunity,” Steele said. “We’re going to go showcase that.” The RedHawks, who are the first MAC team to earn an at-large bid since 1999, face No. 6 Tennessee in the Round of 64 on Friday. Despite the challenge, players like guard Peter Suder and sophomore Luke Skaljac stressed that the team’s confidence stems from internal belief rather than external validation. Suder, reflecting on the win over SMU, said, “We showed that last night, especially, but just don’t count us out.” Skaljac added, “We’re not really trying to prove it to the media, fans, or whatever. We all know inside the locker room who we are as a team.” The RedHawks’ offensive firepower was evident, as Eian Elmer, Skaljac, and Brant Byers combined for 59 points, showcasing their ability to dominate in high-stakes games. The victory also marked a historic milestone for the program, which made its 18th NCAA Tournament appearance and its first since 2007. The win came amid a season of overcoming skepticism, with some analysts questioning whether the team should have been included in the field after failing to secure an automatic bid.#travis_steele #miami_ohio #smu #dayton #ud_arena
Miami (Ohio) downs SMU in First Four: 'Deserve' to be here Miami (Ohio) made a strong statement in the First Four of the NCAA tournament, defeating SMU 89-79 at UD Arena. The 11th-seeded RedHawks, who had been a polarizing 30-win team in the lead-up to the tournament, proved their worth by outperforming the 6.5-point favorite. The victory marked their first tournament game since 2007 and set them up for a first-round matchup against No. 6 seed Tennessee in the Midwest Region. Coach Travis Steele emphasized that the game was not an upset, calling it a validation of the team’s preparation. “We were the better team coming into this game,” he said. The RedHawks led for most of the contest, hit a season-high 16 three-pointers, and scored their highest total in a tournament game since 1958. Star guard Peter Suder credited the team’s resilience, saying they had “proven the doubters wrong” by defeating a “really good team” with physical talent. Miami’s path to the tournament was unique. The team did not face any power conference opponents in nonleague play, as schools avoided scheduling them due to their weak schedule. Despite going 31-0 in the regular season and reaching the Mid-American Conference tournament quarterfinals, their lack of high-profile wins created an unusual at-large profile. “We had to basically be perfect in the whole regular season to get that at-large,” Steele said. The RedHawks’ success in the tournament was bolstered by a passionate crowd, with over 12,000 fans in attendance. The game’s energy was heightened by the presence of Miami’s men’s swimming and diving team, who sprinted down the aisle behind SMU’s basket to distract free throw shooter Corey Washington. “What really surprised me was the swim team, when they came out,” said forward Antwone Woolfolk. Miami’s offensive strategy was key to the win.#travis_steele #miami_ohio #smu #ud_arena #peter_suder
NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament First Four Schedule and Results Dayton hosted the First Four games on March 17 and 18, 2026, as part of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. The opening day featured two tightly contested matchups, with No. 16 seed Howard defeating No. 16 seed UMBC 86-83 and No. 11 seed Texas narrowly edging No. 11 seed NC State 68-66. These results set the stage for the second day of action, which included additional games to determine which teams would advance to the 64-team bracket. The First Four, introduced in 2011 when the tournament expanded from 65 to 68 teams, serves as a qualifier for the lowest-ranked teams. It features four games: two on the first day and two on the second, with the winners advancing to the main tournament. The 2026 edition saw No. 16 seeds Prairie View A&M and Lehigh face off, while No. 11 seeds Miami (Ohio) and SMU competed for a spot in the next round. The tournament’s structure ensures that the four lowest-ranked teams—typically No. 16 seeds and at-large inclusions—compete in a mini-tournament to secure a place in the 64-team bracket. The games are held at UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio, a venue that has hosted the First Four since 2011, except for 2021, when the event was moved to Indiana due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The First Four games on March 17 included Prairie View A&M vs. Lehigh and Miami (Ohio) vs. SMU. The winners of these matchups would join the previously victorious teams from the first day, completing the selection process for the main tournament. The event concluded on March 18, with the final results determining which teams would advance to the next round. The tournament’s scheduling and format highlight the competitive nature of college basketball, as teams with lower seeds face off in a bid to secure a spot in the larger tournament.#ncaa_men_s_basketball_tournament #dayton #tru_tv #ud_arena #sling_tv
