Bennett hero as Flyers start conference play 2-0
(Photo via daytonmbb Instagram)
Gabriel Ward | Sports Editor
The University of Dayton men’s basketball team defeated the Loyola Chicago Ramblers 70-68 on Saturday, Jan. 3, in front of 3,777 fans at Gentile Arena in Chicago. It was the Flyers’ second Atlantic 10 game of the season and their first A-10 road game.
The Flyers struggled in the first half, as despite getting off to a 15-13 lead after a Jacob Conner three-point shot with 11:11 remaining in the first half, Loyola responded with a 13-0 run to gain a 26-15 lead with 7:24 remaining in the half. The Ramblers’ first-half offense was fueled by the three-point shot, as Loyola made seven three-pointers in the first half.
Loyola was able to spread the ball around on offense in the first half as eight different Ramblers found themselves on the scoresheet, and only Kayde Dotson scored double-digit points in the first half as his three three-pointers helped him to 11 first-half points.
Despite giving up a 13-0 run, the Flyers were able to respond. It was Chicago native and 2024 Illinois Class 4A state champion Bryce Heard who helped propel the Flyers’ offense in the first half, as after the Ramblers’ run, Heard scored the Flyers’ next six points before the rest of the team got going. Keonte Jones continued the Dayton momentum, as with 3:22 remaining in the first half, he was fouled and converted a three-point play. A De’Shayne Montgomery jumper, Javon Bennett free throws, and a Jaiun Simon layup helped the Flyers cut the deficit to single digits as Loyola led 39-31 at the half.
The Ramblers continued to control the game in the second half, and with 8:29 remaining in the game, Justin Moore gathered an offensive rebound and made a layup to extend Loyola’s lead to 12 points, tied for the largest in the second half.
Dayton finally began to make a run and got the deficit to two possessions as a Montgomery steal and layup with 5:44 remaining in the game brought the score to 63-57, Loyola ahead. Montgomery was outstanding in the second half as he scored 17 of his 20 total points in the second half, as well as having five second-half steals, helping him to a game high of seven total steals.
Montgomery would continue to make plays for the Flyers, as with 4:45 remaining in the game, he converted two free throws and then again went to the charity stripe with 3:59 remaining, where he knocked down two more free throws to make the score 63-61, the Flyers trailing by two.
Bennett would take over the Flyers’ offense in the final few minutes as he scored on three separate occasions to tie the game. At 3:38, Bennett would convert a layup to tie the game at 63; then, after Moore restored the Ramblers’ lead with a jumper, Bennett would be fouled and make two free throws with 2:15 remaining to tie the game at 65. Kymany Houinsou would split a pair of free throws to give Loyola a one-point lead with 51 seconds remaining; however, Bennett would once again be fouled and convert both shots to give the Flyers a 67-66 lead with 27 seconds left and then would be fouled again and split the pair with 14 seconds remaining to extend the Flyers’ lead to 68-66.
On their final possession, the Ramblers would go to Houinsou for their offense, and with eight seconds remaining in the game, Houinsou would draw a blocking foul from Jones, sending him to the line down two with two free throws to tie it. After converting the first shot, Houinsou would miss the second attempt; however, a lane violation on Jones would give Houinsou another attempt. Houinsou would convert this attempt, tying the game at 68.
After a Dayton timeout with 5.6 seconds remaining in the game, Conner would find Bennett on the inbounds, and Bennett would attack the rim and convert a layup over the A-10 leader in blocks and blocks per game, Miles Rubin, with 1.9 seconds remaining. The Flyers would hold on for the final seconds and leave Chicago with a 70-68 win.
The win moved the Flyers to 11-4 overall and 2-0 in conference play; for Loyola, the loss would drop them to 5-10 overall and 1-1 in conference play. Dayton will return to the court Tuesday, Jan. 6, when they take on George Washington (11-4, 2-0) at UD Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. and can be seen on CBS Sports Network.