Dayton Beats Davidson in Overtime

DAVIDSON, NC — The Dayton Flyers went on the road Friday night and knocked off the Davidson Wildcats, 89-78, in overtime. Senior guard Jalen Crutcher led all scorers with a career-high 29 points. Ibi Watson added 24, including eight in overtime. UD shot 57 percent from the field against the Wildcats, making five of six shots in overtime. Elijah Weaver made his first start as a Dayton Flyer, scoring 11 points and dishing out a game-high seven assists in 36 minutes of action. The Flyers improved 6-3 overall, 2-2 in the Atlantic 10.

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Dayton jumped out to a 13-6 lead to start the game but Davidson responded with seven straight points to tie the game at 13-13. UD maintained the lead throughout the first half thanks to Crutcher’s 10 points as they led, 32-31, at the break. Kellen Grady opened the second half for Davidson with two straight treys to tie the game at 37 apiece. But the Flyers got three pointers each by Crutcher, Watson and Mustaphar Amzil go up, 46-39. Their biggest of the lead of the game was 50-42 with over 14 minutes remaining.

Davidson remained close thanks to 27 points by Kellen Grady and 20 points by Luka Brajkovic. They each helped cut Dayton’s lead to two points on several occasions in the second half but UD stayed ahead. They led 72-69 after Crutcher’s two free throws with 12 seconds and had a foul to give. They did not use it and Grady buried a three to tie the game at 72-72 with three seconds left in regulation. Ibi Watson missed a shot at the buzzer and the game went into overtime.

Watson and Crutcher combined to score the Flyers’ first six points in overtime as they led, 78-76. Ibi Watson’s three-pointer with a over a minute left extended the lead to 81-76. After a Carter Collins basket for Davidson, Zimi Nwokeji scored to put Dayton back up by five, 83-78 with 46 seconds to go. Collins missed a trey at the other end for the Wildcats and UD sealed the game by going six of eight from the foul line.

Dayton’s next game will be Wednesday night when they host Duquesne at the UD Arena at 7 pm. Pre-game coverage begins at 6:30 pm on the home of the Flyers, 1290 and 95-7, WHIO. You can also listen to the game here on WHIO.com.

Cox Media Group