INDIANAPOLIS – The Illinois State men's basketball team has been selected to host Kent State in the opening round of the 2026 National Invitation Tournament (NIT) on Wednesday, March 18 inside CEFCU Arena. The start time for the game will be 7 p.m.
The Redbirds are 20-12, and this season marks the first time since 2008-09 and 2009-10 that the program has had back-to-back 20-win seasons. This season is ISU's 15th appearance in the NIT, with the last coming during the 2017 tournament when the Redbirds split a pair of home games against UC Irvine and UCF. ISU is 11-14 all-time in the tournament, winning two games in both the 1987 and 1995 tournaments, and will be the 10th time that the Redbirds have hosted a game in the tournament.
Kent State, coached by Rob Senderoff, finished the regular season with a 24-9 overall record, including going 14-4 in the Mid-American Conference. The Rockets, which average 85.1 points per game, have five players averaging in double-figures on the season, led by Delrecco Gillespie who averaged 18.1 points, while Morgan Safford averages 14.2.
Tickets for the game are on sale now, and season ticket holders have 24 hours to purchase their specific seats at a discounted price of $20 for the lower bowl and $15 for the upper bowl. Non-season ticket holders can purchase seats for $25 in the lower bowl and $20 in the upper bowl. Loge box seats are also available for this game. There will be free printed tickets for the first 250 students to enter the game through the North entrance by showing their Redbird ID. After the 250 tickets have been exhausted, the student ticket price will be $15.
