Kent State Golden Flashes at Illinois State Redbirds

· NIT - 1st Round

Kent State Golden Flashes

24-9, 7-5 Away

Illinois State Redbirds

20-12, 13-2 Home

Illinois State squares off against Kent State in NIT matchup

Game Preview

Kent State Golden Flashes (24-9, 15-5 MAC) at Illinois State Redbirds (20-12, 12-9 MVC)

Normal, Illinois; Wednesday, 8 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: Illinois State squares off against Kent State in the National Invitation Tournament.

The Redbirds' record in MVC play is 12-9, and their record is 8-3 against non-conference opponents. Illinois State has a 2-0 record in games decided by 3 points or fewer.

The Golden Flashes' record in MAC play is 15-5. Kent State ranks third in the MAC with 24.9 defensive rebounds per game led by Delrecco Gillespie averaging 8.2.

Illinois State's average of 8.6 made 3-pointers per game this season is just 0.5 fewer made shots on average than the 9.1 per game Kent State gives up. Kent State has shot at a 45.2% rate from the field this season, 1.6 percentage points above the 43.6% shooting opponents of Illinois State have averaged.

TOP PERFORMERS: Boden Skunberg is shooting 42.1% from beyond the arc with 1.8 made 3-pointers per game for the Redbirds, while averaging 10.1 points. Johnny Kinziger is shooting 36.1% and averaging 11.1 points over the last 10 games.

Cian Medley is averaging 10.8 points and 6.4 assists for the Golden Flashes. Gillespie is averaging 15.3 points over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Redbirds: 5-5, averaging 70.0 points, 29.5 rebounds, 13.5 assists, 5.1 steals and 2.1 blocks per game while shooting 44.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 71.7 points per game.

Golden Flashes: 7-3, averaging 80.8 points, 32.8 rebounds, 14.0 assists, 7.3 steals and 2.6 blocks per game while shooting 43.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 77.3 points.

TV Channel: Kent State at Illinois State 2021 College Basketball, week , is broadcasted on ESPN+.
Online streaming: Sign up for Fubo Free trial.
Try Vidgo for free.

Illinois State: 76.8%

Kent State: 23.2%

*According to ESPN's Basketball Power Index

Statistics

KENT		ILST
L1	Streak	L1
79.6	Points Against	68.4
85.1	Points Per Game	75.1
45	Field Goal %	47
36	Three Point %	35
39.6	Rebounds Per Game	35.7
16.0	Assists Per Game	13.5
3.4	Blocks Per Game	2.3
6.9	Steals Per Game	5.7
0.2	Team Turnovers Per Game	0.6
13.4	Total Turnovers Per Game	12.0

Game Information

Venue: CEFCU Arena

Location: Normal, IL
Capacity:

2025-26 Mid-American Conference Standings

TEAM	CONF	GB	OVER
Miami (OH)	18-0	-	31-1
Akron	17-1	1	29-5
Kent State	14-4	4	24-9
Toledo	11-7	7	19-15
Bowling Green	9-9	9	18-14
Ohio	9-9	9	15-17
Buffalo	7-11	11	17-15
Massachusetts	7-11	11	17-16
Ball State	7-11	11	12-19
Central Michigan	6-12	12	10-21
Western Michigan	4-14	14	10-21
Eastern Michigan	4-14	14	10-21
Northern Illinois	4-14	14	9-21

2025-26 Missouri Valley Conference Standings

TEAM	CONF	GB	OVER
Belmont	16-4	-	26-6
Bradley	13-7	3	21-12
Illinois State	12-8	4	20-12
Murray State	12-8	4	20-12
UIC	12-8	4	19-15
Northern Iowa	11-9	5	23-12
Valparaiso	11-9	5	18-15
Southern Illinois	10-10	6	16-16
Drake	6-14	10	14-20
Indiana State	4-16	12	11-21
Evansville	3-17	13	7-25