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Illinois State Upsets Wake Forest in NIT Thriller
Late 3-pointer lifts Redbirds to quarterfinal berth
Mar. 22, 2026 at 11:25pm
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Johnny Kinziger hit a game-winning 3-pointer with just two seconds left to lift Illinois State to a 78-75 upset victory over top-seeded Wake Forest in the second round of the NIT tournament in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Why it matters
This win marks a major upset for the Illinois State Redbirds, who were not expected to advance this far in the NIT. The loss is a disappointing end to the season for the heavily favored Wake Forest Demon Deacons, who were hoping to make a deep run in the tournament.
The details
With the game tied at 75-75, Illinois State's Johnny Kinziger hit a clutch 3-pointer in the final seconds to give the Redbirds the lead. Wake Forest was unable to respond, sealing the upset victory for Illinois State.
- The game was played on Sunday, March 22, 2026 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
The players
Johnny Kinziger
The Illinois State guard hit the game-winning 3-pointer to lift the Redbirds to victory.
Wake Forest
The top-seeded Demon Deacons were upset at home by the Illinois State Redbirds in the second round of the NIT tournament.
Illinois State
The Redbirds pulled off a major upset by defeating the heavily favored Wake Forest Demon Deacons in the NIT tournament.
What they’re saying
“We knew it was going to be a tough game against a great team like Wake Forest, but our guys never gave up and kept fighting until the end.”
— Dan Muller, Illinois State Head Coach
What’s next
Illinois State will advance to the NIT quarterfinals, where they will face the winner of the game between Clemson and Colorado.
The takeaway
This upset victory for Illinois State shows the unpredictability of the NIT tournament, where any team can pull off a surprise win on any given night. The loss is a tough end to the season for Wake Forest, who were expected to make a deep run in the tournament.
