Dayton drills Cal, takes third in Maui Invitational

By: Steven Wright – Sports Editor

Anyone would enjoy a trip to Hawaii.

The University of Dayton men’s basketball team made its trip to the EA Sports Maui Invitational especially enjoyable, finishing in third place.

Three Flyers scored career highs in points, and Dayton defeated the University of California, Berkeley 82-64 Wednesday, Nov. 27.

The third place finish is the second for Dayton in its three tournament appearances. UD finished third in 2000, the first time the team competed and won the tournament in 2003.

Senior forward Devin Oliver had 21 points to lead four Flyers in double figure scoring. Sophomore forward Jalen Robinson added 17 in 21 minutes off the bench, and freshman guard Kyle Davis had 12 points.

Redshirt senior guard Vee Sanford finished with 14 points.

Dayton (6-1) used a 14-0 run in the middle of the first half to gain its first lead of the game and turn a seven-point deficit into a seven-point lead with just under eight minutes left in the half.

The run ended on two free throws following a foul on freshman forward Kendall Pollard for an elbow above the shoulder.

Dayton led 37-27 at the break behind Robinson’s 10 first half points.

Cal senior guard Justin Cobbs scored 16 straight points. His last second shot to end the first half triggered seven consecutive baskets through the first 5:10 of the second half. His run cut UD’s lead to two.

Cobbs finished with a career-high 31 points on 12-of-20 shooting and 7-of-8 at the free throw line before fouling out with 3:14 to go.

Dayton answered Cobbs’ flurry with a 16-4 to retake a 14-point lead. Dayton led by at least 12 points the rest of the game.

UD had only four turnovers in the game, its lowest total of the season, and had 11 assists.

Redshirt junior guard Jordan Sibert, who led the team in scoring at 16.3 points per game and had three straight 20-point games, was held to a season-low three on 1 for 7 shooting.

The Dayton bench outscored Cal 52-8, and shot 21 for 38.

Dayton is now 7-2 all-time in Maui Invitational play, with three victories over ranked foes, including an 84-79 win over No. 11 Gonzaga University in this year’s quarterfinals.

Dayton finished this year’s tournament at 2-1, after falling to No. 18 Baylor University by one point on Tuesday in its semifinal game.

Head coach Archie Miller said after a disappointing loss to Baylor, the win over Cal ended the tournament on a high note.

“It’s a great feeling to win,” Miller said. “We came ready to play. It was a long trip, but we’re very excited to just get back home.”