- Matchup: Illinois State Redbirds vs Auburn Tigers
- Date: Thursday, April 2, 2026
- Venue: Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
- Broadcast: ESPN
- Odds/Point Spread: Auburn (-6)
This page may include affiliate links at no extra cost to you, thanks for your support.
The NIT Semifinals will see the Auburn Tigers (20-16) face off against the Illinois State Redbirds (23-12) at Hinkle Fieldhouse this Thursday. Currently, Auburn is favored by 6 points, with a betting total set at 148.
The Illinois State Redbirds recently claimed victory against Wake Forest, securing a 78-75 win. Throughout that game, Illinois State committed 18 personal fouls while Wake Forest had 15. The Redbirds managed 5 successful three-pointers out of 16 attempts, while Wake Forest connected on 14 of 21 free throws, achieving a 66.7% free throw percentage. On the rebounding front, Wake Forest amassed 32 boards (7 offensive, 25 defensive) but failed to record any blocks. Furthermore, they tallied 15 assists and 7 steals during the matchup. Defensively, Illinois State allowed Wake Forest to shoot 50.0% from the field, converting 28 of 56 shots. Illinois State recorded 12 assists, forced 10 turnovers, and gained 6 steals while securing 30 rebounds, including 9 on the offensive end. The Redbirds excelled at the free throw line, making 18 of 21 attempts for an impressive 85.7% success rate, and finished the game with a field goal percentage of 41.0% (25 of 61), including 10 of 33 from beyond the arc.
Ty Pence emerged as a key player in this match, boasting an impressive shooting percentage of 72.7% and contributing 1 assist while spending 27 minutes on the court. He scored 23 points, going 8 for 11 from the field.
Illinois State enters this game with a season record of 23-12. The team’s scoring average stands at 74.9 points per game (ranked 203rd nationally), with a 46.5% shooting percentage from the field. The Redbirds have a three-point shooting percentage of 35.1%, having connected on 304 of 865 attempts, and they convert 70.3% from the free throw line. As a collective unit, Illinois State collects an average of 35.8 rebounds per game and has accumulated 477 assists this season, ranking them 138th in Division 1 for assists. They average 11.2 turnovers and commit approximately 16.7 fouls per game.
From a defensive standpoint, the Redbirds force 10.8 turnovers per game and draw 17.3 fouls. They limit opponents to a 31.8% success rate from three-point territory and rank 39th in the nation in points allowed per game (67.9). Illinois State surrenders a shooting percentage of 43.1% (858 of 1,993) and allows 32.7 rebounds per game, placing them 190th in college basketball for assists allowed, having conceded 442 assists this season.
In their most recent game, the Auburn Tigers triumphed over Nevada, finishing 75-69. On the rebounding front, Auburn permitted Nevada to grab 28 rebounds (7 offensive). The Tigers shot 35.0% from the three-point range, making 7 of 20 attempts, and converted 12 of 17 free throws (70.6%). Auburn allowed Nevada to shoot 25 of 54 from the field, resulting in a shooting percentage of 46.3%. The Tigers completed the game with 30 successful field goals out of 61 attempts for a 49.2% shooting rate, including 6 successful three-point attempts out of 24 (25.0%). Auburn’s free throw opportunities were bolstered by 14 fouls committed by Nevada, leading to 14 free throws, while they turned the ball over 7 times and generated 9 steals. The Tigers gathered 18 defensive rebounds and 8 offensive rebounds for a total of 26 boards.
Filip Jovic was a standout player for the Tigers, scoring 18 points over 28 minutes of play, alongside 1 assist. He achieved an exceptional shooting percentage of 75.0%, converting 9 of 12 attempts while also securing 9 rebounds.
The Auburn Tigers stand at a record of 20-16 for the season. Offensively, the Tigers have a field goal percentage of 45.7%, ranking them 145th nationally. They have accumulated 2,974 points this season, averaging 82.6 points per game, with 36.6 rebounds per contest. They assist on average 12.8 times per game (ranking 257th in D-1) and average 10.1 turnovers. Auburn commits approximately 17.1 fouls per game while hitting 74.4% from the free throw line.
Auburn’s defense allows opponents a 37.0% success rate from three-point range (315 of 852) and a free throw success rate of 74.1%. They concede 14.3 assists and 32.7 rebounds per game, ranking 255th and 73rd nationwide, respectively. Defensively, Auburn ranks 312th in D-1 for points allowed, permitting 78.9 points each game. On average, they force 11.1 turnovers per game and allow teams to shoot 46.4% from the floor (ranked 303rd in D-1).
Who will prevail in tonight’s NCAA matchup against the spread?
Selection: Bet on Auburn (-6)
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.
