National Invitation Tournament: Illinois State Edges Wake Forest and heads to Dayton.

Johnny Kinziger’s three-point, buzzer-beater sent Illinois State to the quarterfinals of a postseason tournament for the second straight season. The defending College Basketball Invitational champions defeated Wake Forest 78-75 Sunday and play in the National Invitation Tournament’s quarterfinal on Wednesday. 

Illinois State (22-12) overcame a nine-point, second half deficit to get into a back-and-forth battle with the Demon Deacons all the way to the buzzer. Kinziger’s heroics were part of a 17-point second half for the junior guard and aligned with a 17-point second half explosion by teammate Ty Pence. Kinziger finished with 19 points and Pence with 23.

Center Chase Walker scored 15 points. Pence’s output was a career best. 

Wake Forest’s Tre’Von Spillers (24) and Juke Harris (20) led the Demon Deacons. Spillers made all eleven of his field goal attempts. 

The Redbirds are something of tournament specialists. They won three of last season’s 22 victories on the way to the CBI title and have won five straight postseason tournament games. Earlier this season, coach Ryan Pedon’s team went undefeated at the ESPN Events Invitational, defeating Charlotte and Furman. The Redbirds are 10-4 outside of Missouri Valley Conference play. 

Wake finishes the season with a record of 18-17. 

Illinois State travels to Dayton, Ohio for Wednesday’s quarterfinal matchup with the Flyers (25-11). Dayton defeated Illinois State’s league-mate Bradley Braves and UNC Wilmington to reach Wednesday’s contest. 

Wake Forest was this bracket’s top-seeded team and Dayton is number two. The winner of Wednesday’s game faces the winner of Wednesday’s contest when Auburn (19-16) entertains Nevada (24-12).

The other two quarterfinals will be played Tuesday. St. Joseph’s (24-11) visits New Mexico (25-10) and Tulsa (28-7) hosts Wichita State (24-11).