In 1951, the Dayton Flyers men’s basketball team won the National Invitation Tournament (NIT). At the time, the NIT was considered to be one of the top postseason tournaments in college basketball, and winning the tournament was a significant achievement for any team. The Flyers defeated several top programs en route to the championship, including Bradley, Seton Hall, and St. John’s. The 1951 NIT championship was the first major postseason title in Dayton’s basketball history, and helped establish the program as a rising power in the sport.