Bradley Braves Look to Upset Dayton Flyers in NIT Matchup

Dayton Favored by 1 Point in First Round Clash

Mar. 17, 2026 at 9:01pm

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The Bradley Braves (21-12) will take on the Dayton Flyers (23-11) in the first round of the NIT on Wednesday, March 18, 2026 at Carver Arena in Peoria, Illinois. Dayton opens as 1-point favorites in the matchup, which will be televised on ESPNU. Both teams are coming off recent losses, with Dayton falling to VCU 70-62 and Bradley dropping a 73-69 decision against UNI.

Why it matters

This NIT matchup features two teams looking to bounce back from late-season defeats and advance in the postseason tournament. Dayton, the higher-seeded team, will be favored at home, but Bradley has proven to be a scrappy squad all season and will look to pull off the upset on the road.

The details

In their loss to VCU, the Dayton Flyers shot just 43.4% from the field and 33.3% from 3-point range. They were led by Javon Bennett's 14 points. Bradley, meanwhile, shot 43.4% overall and 38.1% from deep in its defeat against UNI, with Timoty van der Knaap scoring 12 points. The Braves will need to limit turnovers and continue their strong 3-point shooting to have a chance at the upset.

  • The game will take place on Wednesday, March 18, 2026.
  • Dayton's last game was a 70-62 loss to VCU on an unspecified date.
  • Bradley's last game was a 73-69 defeat against UNI on an unspecified date.

The players

Dayton Flyers

The Dayton Flyers are the higher-seeded team in this NIT matchup, entering with a 23-11 record on the season.

Bradley Braves

The Bradley Braves are the lower-seeded team, but have a solid 21-12 record on the year and will look to pull off the upset on the road.

Javon Bennett

The Dayton Flyers were led by Javon Bennett's 14 points in their last game against VCU.

Timoty van der Knaap

Timoty van der Knaap scored 12 points for the Bradley Braves in their most recent loss to UNI.

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What they’re saying

“We must come out focused and ready to play our game if we want to advance in the NIT.”

— Anthony Grant, Head Coach, Dayton Flyers

“This is a great opportunity for us to prove ourselves against a tough opponent. We're ready for the challenge.”

— Brian Wardle, Head Coach, Bradley Braves

What’s next

The winner of this first-round NIT matchup will advance to face the winner of the Belmont vs. Toledo game in the second round.

The takeaway

This NIT clash between Dayton and Bradley features two teams looking to bounce back from late-season defeats and keep their postseason hopes alive. While Dayton enters as the favorite, Bradley has shown the ability to pull off upsets this year and will look to do so again on the road to advance in the tournament.