SLU to play Arkansas State in NIT first round

St. Louis University (SLU) will play Arkansas State in the first round of the NIT on Tuesday night. This marks SLU's return to the NIT for the first time since 2022, after securing a bid due to other teams opting for different tournaments. Coach Josh Schertz and players agreed to continue the season if they received an NIT invitation. SLU's NET ranking allowed them to join five other Atlantic 10 schools in the tournament, as many major conference teams chose the College Basketball Crown. SLU is unseeded, while Arkansas State is the No. 3 seed. Both teams have a common opponent in Jackson State. If SLU wins, they will face either North Texas or Furman in the next round.