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Men’s Basketball 3-0 After Ball State Win

TJ Thompson ,

(Photo via @daytonmbb Instagram)

TJ Thompson | Sports Editor

The University of Dayton men’s basketball team moved to 3-0 after a wire-to-wire victory against Ball State University Wednesday night. Holding on to a strong first-half performance, the Flyers won 77-69.

Dayton was led by Enoch Cheeks with 23 points and 11 rebounds and Malachi Smith, who also ended the night with a double-double. Isaac Jack came off the bench and gave the Flyers a spark scoring 11 points.

This is the first time since March 2024 that two Flyers have recorded double-doubles in the same game.

First Half

  • Graduate student Zed Key took over the game early with back-to-back slam dunks off a pick-and-roll and a Cardinals turnover.
  • Enoch Cheeks’ first score of many came off a mid-range jumper extending the Flyer lead to 6-0.
  • Malachi Smith continued the early offensive onslaught with a tough finish at the rim, making the score 8-0 less than three minutes into the game.
  • Freshman big man Amaël L’Etang got his first points of the night off an assist from Smith pushing the lead to nine at 14:11.
  • Smith continued his offensive contribution with a three-pointer off an assist from Posh Alexander making the score 16-4 with 13:36 to play in the half.
  • Off of a Ball State turnover, Key slammed home another dunk off an assist from Smith.
  • Zed Key lived above the rim in the first half, bringing down his fourth dunk off an assist from Nate Santos at 10:49.
  • Flight school continued with another dunk from Cheeks off an assist from Alexander pushing the score to 25-7 with just above nine minutes to play.
  • With just over four minutes to play, sophomore Isaac Jack scored his first points of the year with a lay-up.
  • Enoch Cheeks continued his hot night scoring the last six Flyer points of the half making the score at the break 41-23.

Second Half

  • Cheeks continued his great night with a three to start the half off an assist from Smith ending a 5-0 Cardinals run making the score 44-28.
  • Smith broke double digits with a drive and a lay-in at 17:36.
  • After a scoring drought of almost four minutes, Nate Santos drew a foul and knocked down both free throw attempts making the UD lead 10.
  • After missing five shots in a row Alexander found Cheeks heading to the basket for an easy lay-up putting the Flyers up 11.
  • The Cardinals offense started to heat up with a 7-0 run, but it was ended by an Alexander layup and a Jack layup making the score 57-48 Flyers at 9:23.
  • With 7:26 to play Cheeks finished a tough and-one pushing the lead to 14 for the Flyers.
  • The offense for the Flyers heated up again with a 10-0 run on five of six shooting giving the Flyers a 17-point lead with just over six to play.
  • Smith knocked down his second three of the night and extended the lead 72-57.
  • Smith and Cheeks continued their second-half takeover as Smith hit Cheeks for three and the Flyers now led 75-63.
  • Smith ended the game with a perfect trip to the line and the Flyers won 77-69.

Numbers

  • 2 – Malachi Smith and Enoch Cheeks both recorded double-doubles. Smith had 16 points and 10 assists, while Cheeks added 23 and grabbed 11 rebounds.
  • 11 – Isaac Jack scored 11 bench points, which was the most off the bench for either team.
  • 23 – Enoch Cheeks scored his career-high as a Flyer
  • 5 – Tonight was the fifth time Smith had 10+ assists in a game.

Up Next

  • Dayton hosts Capital at UD Arena on Saturday, Nov. 16
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