NIT Second Round: Dayton vs UNC Wilmington Preview, Odds, Predictions (March 21)
- The Flyers took down Bradley in the first round.
- The Seahawks stunned Yale in the Round of 32.
- This marks the second all-time matchup between the two squads.
The NIT second round has gone underway on the March 21 schedule as the Dayton Flyers duel against the UNC Wilmington Seahawks. The latter stands tall as the slight favorite, presenting a solid matchup for mid-major basketball fans.
How to Watch
- When: Saturday, March 21, 7 pm ET
- Where: Trask Coliseum, Wilmington, North Carolina
- How to Watch: ESPN+
NCAA Matchup Odds & Lines
| Team | Odds | Spread | Totals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dayton | -110 | -3.5 | O138.5 |
| UNC Wilmington | -110 | +3.5 | U138.5 |
Game Preview
The Flyers (24-11) made their way to the Round of 16 after besting Bradley in the opening round of the NIT. Javon Bennett finished the game with 25 points while shooting 61.5% (8-of-13), marking his fifth consecutive game with 10+ points and his ninth 20+ scoring performance this season. He was joined by De’Shayne Montgomery with 14 points, while Bryce Heard had 12 points and AmaĂ«l L’Etang contributed with 11 points, respectively. L’Etang led the Flyers with eight rebounds, while Jordan Derkack dished out five assists.
The Seahawks (27-6) took down Yale in surprising fashion to make their way to the second round of the NIT, erasing a 14-point second-half deficit in the process. Christian May led the way with 16 points to anchor four UNCW players in double figures along with Madison Durr and Nolan Hodge providing 13 points each, and Patrick Wessler scored 10 points.
Dayton vs UNC Wilmington Head-to-Head
The two programs have had one meeting in their history, and the result is 1-0 for the Flyers. The last matchup was in November 2011 when Dayton won 74-49.
Dayton vs UNC Wilmington Predictions
The winner of Saturday’s contest will move on to play the winner of No. 1 seed Wake Forest and No. 4 seed Illinois State on either March 24 or 25. As long as Javon Bennett comes through with a big performance against UNC Wilmington, Dayton might find itself in the quarterfinals of the tournament. Our betting pick here is for the Flyers to defend a 3.5-point spread.
- Free NCAAB pick:Â Dayton Flyers -3.5
