NORMAL, Ill. – For the fifth time in the last eight seasons, Illinois State has earned a spot in the National Invitation Tournament and will open the first round Wednesday at 7 p.m. on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena versus Green Bay in a game nationally-televised by ESPNU.
The Redbirds, who finished the regular season with a 21-12 overall record after winning six of their last seven games, enter the tournament as a No. 4 seed – ISU's highest NIT seeding since 2007-08 – while Green Bay earned a No. 5 seed after posting a 24-8 record.
This marks Illinois State's 13th appearance in the NIT, and the Redbirds own a 9-12 all-time mark in the event. ISU last played in the NIT during the 2011-12 season, with the Redbirds earning a 96-93 overtime victory at Ole Miss before falling, 92-88, in overtime at Stanford.
ISU's last NIT home game resulted in a 55-48 second-round loss to Dayton (March 24, 2008). The Redbirds are 4-2 in NIT home contests. Wednesday's game will mark the 13th meeting between the Redbirds and Green Bay, with ISU leading the all-time series, 9-3.
Tickets are on sale beginning Sunday night at by clicking here: $15 for lower bowl, $10 for upper bowl and $5 for Illinois State students.
The winner of the ISU-Green Bay game will advance to face the winner of the Old Dominion-Charleston Southern match-up in the second round.
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