Tickets | Student Tickets
NORMAL, Ill. – For the first time in program history, the Illinois State men's basketball team is a No. 1 seed in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT). The Redbirds will host UC Irvine in a first-round matchup Wednesday at 8:30 p.m., live on ESPNU.
Illinois State (27-6, 17-1 MVC) and UC Irvine will meet for the second time in program history, with the Redbirds winning the first meeting, 58-52, Nov. 25, 2001 at the University Hoops Classic in Moon Township, Pennsylvania. The Anteaters (21-14, 12-4 Big West) won the Big West regular-season title and fell in the conference tournament championship game.
The NCAA announced Sunday that the Redbirds were among the "first four out" of the NCAA Tournament field; therefore, ISU was awarded one of four No. 1 seeds in the 32-team NIT bracket. ISU is set to play in its 14th NIT while making its 21st overall postseason tournament appearance.
Illinois State has achieved a program-record 27 wins – including a team-best 17 Missouri Valley Conference victories – en route to a 33 RPI which matched ISU's best RPI on Selection Sunday in program history. ISU was awarded an automatic bid to the NIT by virtue of the Redbirds winning a share of the Missouri Valley Conference regular-season title but not the conference tournament.
The Illinois State Athletics Ticket Office will begin selling NIT tickets to Weisbecker Scholarship Fund donors and season ticket holders Monday at 9 a.m. They will need to log into their account to purchase tickets during the presale. Tickets for the general public will be made available Tuesday at 9 a.m. by navigating to GoRedbirds.com/Tickets, by calling (309) 438-8000 or by visiting the ISU Athletics Ticket Office located at the north entrance of Redbird Arena.
Additionally, the Division of Student Affairs at Illinois State University is sponsoring the first 500 student tickets to the NIT first round game. Students can claim a free ticket while supplies last by logging into their student account at GoRedbirds.com/Students starting Monday at 9 a.m. After those 500 free tickets are claimed, student tickets are $5 each with a valid Illinois State University student ID.
Red Alert students must claim a free ticket or purchase a ticket. Red Alert passes do not include postseason game tickets.
GoRedbirds.com: Your online source for Illinois State Athletics, tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
