- Matchup: Dayton Flyers vs. Bradley Braves
- Date: Wednesday, March 18, 2026
- Venue: Carver Arena, Peoria, IL
- Broadcast: ESPNU
- Betting Odds: Bradley (+1)
This page may include affiliate links at no extra cost to you, thanks for your support.
The Bradley Braves (21-12) are set to face the Dayton Flyers (23-11) at Carver Arena this Wednesday during the first round of the NIT. Dayton heads into this contest as 1-point favorites, with the over/under set at 143 points.
In their previous outing, the Dayton Flyers faced a setback against VCU, losing 70-62. They completed the match shooting 43.4% from the field (23 of 53) and made 7 out of 21 attempts from beyond the arc. At the free-throw line, Dayton converted 9 of 17 shots for a 52.9% success rate. The Flyers secured a total of 37 rebounds, including 7 offensive boards, and tallied 16 assists, alongside forcing 4 turnovers and recording 3 steals. Defensively, the Flyers allowed VCU to shoot 40.4% from the field, with VCU’s efforts resulting in 12 assists and 9 steals. VCU gathered 33 rebounds (6 offensive, 27 defensive) but did not register a block. They finished with a free-throw percentage of 68.4%, sinking 13 out of 19 attempts, and made 11 of 24 three-point shots. Dayton was penalized with 18 personal fouls, matching VCU’s total.
Javon Bennett was a critical contributor in this matchup, scoring 14 points with 6 of 16 shooting. He played for 39 minutes and added 1 rebound, finishing the game with a field goal percentage of 37.5% and 3 assists.
As Dayton approaches this match with a record of 23-11, they average 12.0 turnovers and commit 16.7 personal fouls per game. The Flyers attain 32.9 boards on average and have delivered 487 assists this season, ranking them 115th in college basketball for assists. Their accuracy from three-point range stands at 34.1% (258 out of 756), while they maintain a free throw success rate of 75.1%. Offensively, they average 74.4 points per game (223rd nationally) and shoot 44.6% from the field.
Defensively, Dayton forces opponents into 14.6 turnovers per game and draws 20.4 fouls. They allow opponents to shoot 35.6% from three and rank 71st in points allowed per game (69.9). Their field goal defense stands at 43.6% (815 of 1,870), yielding 33.9 rebounds per game and sitting 139th in Division I for assists allowed, with 416 recorded against them this year.
Meanwhile, in their last encounter, the Bradley Braves came up short against UNI, losing 73-69. Defensively, they permitted UNI to nab 21 rebounds (1 offensive). Bradley excelled with a three-point shooting percentage of 66.7%, going 6 of 9, and finished the game shooting 60.0% from the foul line (9 of 15). UNI shot 65.9% from the floor, converting 29 of 44 attempts. Conversely, the Braves concluded the game with a field goal percentage of 43.4% (23 of 53) and made 8 of 21 from three-point range (38.1%). At the charity stripe, they enjoyed an impressive free-throw rate of 83.3%, making 15 attempts. UNI committed 18 fouls, causing the Braves to shoot 18 free throws. Bradley turned over the ball 9 times but managed to secure 9 steals, collecting 14 defensive and 8 offensive rebounds for a total of 22 rebounds.
Timoty van der Knaap was pivotal for the Braves, scoring 12 points in 24 minutes with no assists. He shot 66.7% from the field, hitting 4 of 6 attempts, and contributed 6 rebounds.
Bradley’s current win-loss record stands at 21-12. The Braves average 18.6 personal fouls per game and boast a 73.3% conversion rate from the free-throw line. They average 13.4 assists per game (ranked 217th in the nation) and commit 9.7 turnovers on average. Overall, they’ve scored 2,560 points this season, averaging 77.6 points per game, while grabbing 34.3 rebounds each contest. Regarding field goal percentage, Bradley shoots 43.8%, ranking 266th nationally.
The Braves’ defense allows 36.1% shooting from three-point range (268 of 742), while opponents convert 70.8% of their free throws. They give up an average of 13.6 assists and 36.0 rebounds per game, ranking 203rd and 282nd, respectively. Defensively, they rank 167th in Division I, allowing 73.4 points per game. They force opponents into 13.9 turnovers per game and permit 45.1% shooting from the field, ranking 240th in the nation.
Who will emerge victorious against the spread in this thrilling NCAA matchup?
Prediction: Take Bradley (+1)
Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you sign up or make a purchase through them, we may earn a small commission always at no extra cost to you. Thanks for helping us keep this site running.
