- Matchup: Kent State Golden Flashes vs Illinois State Redbirds
- Date: Wednesday, March 18, 2026
- Venue: CEFCU Arena, Normal, IL
- Broadcast: ESPN+
- Betting Odds: Illinois State favored by 6 points
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This matchup takes place at CEFCU Arena where the Illinois State Redbirds (20-12) are set to clash with the Kent State Golden Flashes (24-9) in the NIT’s first round. Oddsmakers have placed the Golden Flashes as 6-point underdogs, with an over/under set at 153 points.
In their previous outing, the Kent State Golden Flashes faced Akron, suffering a 75-68 defeat. During that game, Kent State was whistled for 24 fouls while Akron had 20. The Golden Flashes managed to make 8 of 24 attempts from beyond the arc. Akron converted 63.0% of their free throws, hitting 17 of 27 attempts. The Zips secured 33 rebounds, including 7 offensive boards. They also recorded 11 assists and 3 steals throughout the game. On defense, Kent State allowed Akron to shoot at 43.9%, converting 25 out of 57 attempts. The Golden Flashes dished out 5 assists and forced 8 turnovers, resulting in 6 steals. Kent State grabbed a total of 42 rebounds, with 17 coming from offensive efforts. From the free-throw line, they were successful on 21 of 25 attempts, boasting an 84.0% success rate. Overall, Kent State shot 29.4% from the field, making 20 of 68 shots and 7 of 27 from three-point range.
Rob Whaley Jr. played a pivotal role for Kent State, scoring 15 points with a shooting mark of 5 out of 11. He logged 22 minutes on the floor, contributing 1 rebound. Whaley finished the game with a 45.5% shooting efficiency but did not register any assists.
Entering this game, Kent State holds a season record of 24-9. They are averaging an impressive 85.1 points per game (ranking 18th in college basketball) while shooting 45.2% from the floor. The Golden Flashes are connecting on 35.8% of their three-point attempts (325 of 909) and have a free throw success of 74.2%. As a team, they collect an average of 39.6 rebounds per game and have accumulated 529 assists this season, ranking 63rd in NCAA Division 1. They commit an average of 13.2 turnovers per game and 19.7 personal fouls.
On the defensive end, the Golden Flashes force 12.2 turnovers per game while accumulating 20.9 personal fouls. They allow opponents to shoot 34.2% from the three-point line and rank 325th in points allowed per game (79.6). Kent State permits a field goal percentage of 43.7% (883 out of 2022) and averages 34.2 rebounds defensively, with an opponent assist average significantly high at 477 for the season, ranking them 282nd in college basketball.
In their last appearance, the Illinois State Redbirds suffered a 74-52 loss to UNI. The Redbirds secured 25 total rebounds, consisting of 18 defensive and 7 offensive. They committed 10 turnovers but managed to achieve 7 steals in the match. UNI committed 25 personal fouls, resulting in 28 free throw attempts for the Redbirds, of which they converted 19, yielding a 67.9% free throw percentage. From beyond the arc, the Redbirds only converted 3 of 20 attempts (15.0%). Overall, Illinois State shot 15 of 46 from the field, indicating a 32.6% shooting percentage. Surprisingly, they allowed UNI to shoot 53.7% overall, as UNI made 29 out of 54 field goals. The Redbirds permitted UNI to make 8 of 19 three-point attempts, finishing with a 72.7% rate from the charity stripe, making 8 out of 11 free throws. Defensively, they allowed UNI a total of 31 rebounds, of which 7 were on the offensive end.
Chase Walker was a key contributor for Illinois State during this game, scoring 11 points in 24 minutes while dishing out 2 assists. He finished the matchup with a shooting percentage of 28.6%, hitting 2 of 7 attempts and grabbing 5 rebounds.
This season, Illinois State stands at 20-12. Offensively, the Redbirds have achieved a field goal rate of 46.7%, ranking them 87th in college basketball. They have collectively scored 2,404 points, averaging 75.1 per game, while registering 35.7 rebounds per contest. Their assists average stands at 13.5 per game (207th nationally), with a turnover average of 11.3. The Redbirds also commit an average of 16.8 personal fouls per game and convert 70.2% from the free throw line.
On the defensive side, Illinois State allows opposing teams to shoot 32.9% from downtown (209 of 636) and 68.3% from the charity stripe. They give up an average of 12.6 assists and 32.3 total rebounds per game, ranking 108th and 60th in Division 1, respectively. The Redbirds rank 47th in points allowed per game (68.4) while forcing 11.0 turnovers and permitting an opponent shooting percentage of 43.6% (142nd in the nation).
Who will come out on top in this NCAA matchup against the spread?
Recommendation: Bet on Illinois State (-6)
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