Flyers men’s basketball hold on for 65-62 win
Led by senior guards Rodney Chatman and Jalen Crutcher, the Flyers held on for another one-possession win Saturday. Photo courtesy of Griffin Quinn, Flyer News.
Julia Pucci
The University of Dayton men’s basketball pulled out yet another close win, 65-62 over Ole Miss at UD Arena Saturday.
Senior guard Rodney Chatman – 21 points, 4 assists and 2 rebounds – started the Flyers off to a two point lead with 18:26 left in the first half.
Ole Miss, led by top scorers Devontae Shuler and K.J. Buffen each with 12 points, responded by going on a 12-0 run over the next 6 minutes.
That run was broken when Chatman made two free throws and brought the Flyers two points closer to Ole Miss.
With top scorer, senior guard Jalen Crutcher – 23 points, 4 assists and 4 rebounds – the Flyers tied up the game 19-19 with 6:02 left in the first half. The Rebels carried the Flyers into the second half with a 31-24 lead after the Flyers experienced trouble with their rebounding and turnovers.
Problems with rebounding and turnovers changed drastically in the second half with the Flyers getting less than half the turnovers and winning over twice the rebounds than they did in the first half.
The Rebels kept their lead through the first part of the second half until senior center Jordy Tshimanga – 8 points, 1 assist and 5 rebounds – made a jumper, giving the Flyers a 42-41 lead, their first lead since they went up 2-0 early.
Led by Chatman and Crutcher, the Flyers did not lose the lead for the remainder of the game. With 1:48 minutes left in the second half and Ole Miss trailing 61-58, Tshimanga made a key steal from Jarkel Joiner to prevent the Rebels from tying the game.
After fouls by Ole Miss, Crutcher helped the Flyers finish the game with important free throws, leading the Flyers to an 65-62 win.
The Flyers scored just 24 points in the first half to Ole Miss’s 31, but outscored Ole Miss 41-31 in the second.
Now with a 4-1 record, the Flyers will return Dec. 30 at 7 p.m. to open Atlantic 10 play, taking on the La Salle University Explorers, who are 3-4.