Dayton Flyers Headed to NIT After A-10 Title Game Loss

Dayton men's basketball team will play in the National Invitation Tournament for the second straight year.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 6:03am

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The Dayton Flyers men's basketball team will participate in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) after losing to VCU 70-62 in the Atlantic 10 Tournament championship game. Despite leading scorer Javon Bennett's 14 points, Dayton struggled from the free throw line and was unable to overcome a 15-point halftime deficit.

Why it matters

Dayton was playing for an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, but their loss in the A-10 title game means they will have to settle for the NIT for the second consecutive season. This is a disappointment for the Flyers, who were hoping to make the Big Dance after a strong regular season.

The details

Dayton has been given the #2 seed in the Winston-Salem region of the NIT, with the top seed being Wake Forest. Because the NCAA First Four is taking place at UD Arena, the Flyers will have to go on the road to face Bradley in the first round on Wednesday. The winner of that game will play either UNC Wilmington or Yale in the second round.

  • Dayton lost to VCU 70-62 in the Atlantic 10 Tournament championship game on Sunday, March 16, 2026.
  • Dayton will play Bradley in the first round of the NIT on Wednesday, March 19, 2026.

The players

Javon Bennett

Dayton's leading scorer, who had 14 points in the A-10 title game loss.

Amael L'Etang

Dayton player who scored 12 points in the A-10 championship game defeat.

VCU

The team that defeated Dayton 70-62 in the Atlantic 10 Tournament title game.

Wake Forest

The #1 seed in Dayton's region of the NIT.

Bradley

Dayton's first-round opponent in the NIT.

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What’s next

The winner of Dayton's first-round NIT game against Bradley on Wednesday will play either UNC Wilmington or Yale in the second round.

The takeaway

Dayton's failure to win the Atlantic 10 Tournament and earn an automatic NCAA Tournament bid is a disappointment for the Flyers, who will have to settle for the NIT for the second year in a row. However, they still have a chance to make a run in the postseason and potentially earn a spot in the 2027 NCAA Tournament.