NIT, on Wednesday,
Score, Highlights
Short Preview
As the California Golden Bears prepare to host the Illinois-Chicago Flames in the NIT matchup on March 18, 2026, both teams enter with contrasting recent performances. The Golden Bears, with victories in only 2 of their last 5 games, have struggled to find consistency. Their strengths lie in their defensive capabilities and rebounding efforts, which may be crucial against Illinois-Chicago’s offensive strategy.
On the other hand, the Flames have had a more favorable run, securing 3 wins in their last 5 outings. Their offense has been notable, characterized by effective perimeter shooting and swift ball movement, which complicates defensive matchups for opponents. Illinois-Chicago will look to capitalize on any defensive lapses from the Golden Bears, pushing the pace to create high-scoring opportunities.
Bookmakers have favored the Golden Bears at odds of 1.4, reflecting a 62.8% probability of a home win, while the Flames have a 37.2% chance at 2.75 odds. The predicted final score leans towards California at 77-72, suggesting a competitive contest. As both teams aim for a vital win, fans can expect an engaging clash that may hinge on key defensive stands and execution in transition.
This preview is generated with the Welcome.Bet AI Insights Engine, combining form data, betting odds, and semantic SEO optimization to deliver relevant match analysis for fans and bettors alike from 2026-03-16T17:52:03+00:00.
| California 66.3% |
Illinois-Chicago 33.7% |
Prediction (the most likely score): 77:72
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Betting Odds
| 1 | X | 2 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
1.4 | 2.75 |
Latest Results
| 11.03.26 Florida State Seminoles basketball – California Golden Bears basketball – 95:89 07.03.26 Wake Forest Demon Deacons basketball – California Golden Bears basketball – 80:73 04.03.26 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets basketball – California Golden Bears basketball – 65:76 28.02.26 California Golden Bears basketball – Pittsburgh Panthers basketball – 56:72 25.02.26 California Golden Bears basketball – Southern Methodist Mustangs basketball – 73:69 |
08.03.26 Illinois-Chicago Flames basketball – Northern Iowa Panthers basketball – 69:84 07.03.26 Illinois-Chicago Flames basketball – Drake Bulldogs basketball – 72:51 06.03.26 Murray State Racers basketball – Illinois-Chicago Flames basketball – 80:94 01.03.26 Indiana State Sycamores basketball – Illinois-Chicago Flames basketball – 79:63 24.02.26 Illinois-Chicago Flames basketball – Bradley Braves basketball – 93:86 OT |
Facts
Standings
Draw
2025
1/16-finals
| 1 | SMU Mustangs | Northern Iowa | 73 : 63 |
| 2 | Oklahoma State | Wichita State | 89 : 79 |
| 3 | Arkansas State | St. Louis Billikens | 103 : 78 |
| 4 | North Texas | Furman | 75 : 64 |
| 5 | UC Irvine | Northern Colorado | 82 : 72 |
| 6 | Georgia Tech | Jacksonville State | 64 : 81 |
| 7 | Saint Josephs Hawks | UAB | 65 : 69 |
| 8 | Santa Clara | UC Riverside | 101 : 62 |
| 9 | Dayton | Florida Atlantic | 86 : 79 |
| 10 | Middle Tenn. St. | Chattanooga Mocs | 103 : 109 |
| 11 | Bradley | North Alabama | 71 : 62 |
| 12 | George Mason | Samford | 86 : 69 |
| 13 | San Francisco | Utah Valley State | 79 : 70 |
| 14 | San Jose State | Loyola Chicago | 70 : 73 |
| 15 | St. Bonaventure | Kent State | 56 : 75 |
| 16 | Stanford | CS Northridge | 87 : 70 |
1/8-finals
| 1 | SMU Mustangs | Oklahoma State | 83 : 85 |
| 2 | Arkansas State | North Texas | 63 : 65 |
| 3 | UC Irvine | Jacksonville State | 66 : 61 |
| 4 | UAB | Santa Clara | 88 : 84 |
| 5 | Dayton | Chattanooga Mocs | 72 : 87 |
| 6 | Bradley | George Mason | 75 : 67 |
| 7 | San Francisco | Loyola Chicago | 76 : 77 |
| 8 | Kent State | Stanford | 77 : 75 |
Quarter-finals
| 1 | Oklahoma State | North Texas | 59 : 61 |
| 2 | UC Irvine | UAB | 81 : 77 |
| 3 | Chattanooga Mocs | Bradley | 67 : 65 |
| 4 | Loyola Chicago | Kent State | 72 : 62 |
Semi-finals
| 1 | North Texas | UC Irvine | 67 : 69 |
| 2 | Chattanooga Mocs | Loyola Chicago | 80 : 73 |
Final
| 1 | UC Irvine | Chattanooga Mocs | 84 : 85 |
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