The Illinois State Redbirds men’s basketball team will play its first National Invitation Tournament (NIT) game since the 2016-17 season when it hosts the Kent State Golden Flashes on Wednesday, March 17 at CEFCU Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m., with coverage available on ESPN+ and the Illinois State Radio Network.
The return to NIT play marks a significant achievement for the Redbirds, who have recorded back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time since 2008-09 and 2009-10. Head coach Ryan Pedon became just the fifth coach in program history to accomplish this feat. The team’s recent success is also supported by resources such as the Redbird Athletics Excellence Fund, which aims to enhance competitiveness and recruitment, according to the official website.
Illinois State has shown strong performance at home this season, outscoring opponents by a margin of 286 points at CEFCU Arena—the largest since at least the 1983-84 season. The team’s average home victory margin of 19.1 points per game is also a record for the arena. The Redbirds utilize facilities like the OSF HealthCare Athletics Training Center for student-athlete preparation, as reported by the official website.
Several players have reached individual milestones this year. Junior forward Chase Walker was named to the Missouri Valley Conference First Team for a second consecutive season, joining an exclusive group of four players in program history with multiple First Team honors. Freshman Ty’Reek Coleman has posted one of the top freshman scoring seasons in school history and ranks among NCAA freshmen in shooting efficiency. Johnny Kinziger became ISU’s 47th member of the 1,000-point club and now ranks eighth all-time in career three-point baskets made at Illinois State.
The Redbirds’ depth has been notable, with nine different players leading in scoring during games this season—a figure tied for most in NCAA Division I basketball alongside several other programs. Eleven different players have scored double digits during games this year, matching Valparaiso for most in their conference as of late February.
Illinois State University supports its athletic teams through news updates, schedules, rosters, and fan resources designed to strengthen community engagement around athletics according to its official website. The Redbirds compete in NCAA Division I events across various regions nationally.
As Illinois State prepares for its NIT matchup against Kent State, fans can expect continued focus on both team achievements and individual player development.
