Saint Joseph’s 3-point barrage gives Flyers another baffling A10 loss
Since losing their first A10 game of the 2020-21 season against La Salle on Dec. 30 (pictured), the Flyers have dropped six more after going undefeated in the conference last year. Photo courtesy of Griffin Quinn, Flyer News.
Peter Burtnett
Sports Editor
The Dayton Flyers went into Philadelphia facing a team with just two wins on the season, but were barraged by 18 made three pointers and lost their seventh A10 game of the season 97-84 Wednesday night.
The Hawks had the hot hand early, drilling four threes in the first three minutes of the first half. The Flyers were forced to call a timeout with 16:47 left, trailing 15-4.
The three-point line continued to be a comfortable place for the Hawks, who finished the first half 10-23 from deep and took a 54-38 lead into halftime.
However, it was the Flyers that started the second half with the hot hand, opening the first three minutes with a 9-3 run to force a Hawks timeout with 17:14 left in the game, the Hawks’ lead down to 57-47.
The Flyers continued to gain more momentum, and made the game a one-possession game by a three from freshman guard R.J. Blakney with 13:16 remaining in the game. With the score 62-59 in favor of the Hawks, it was the first time Dayton had been within three points since 47 seconds into the game.
But the Hawks quickly regained momentum, pushing the lead back to double digits and putting a dagger in the Flyers with a five-point possession with 6:32 left in the game.
With the Hawks holding a 13-point lead, Hawks’ redshirt junior forward Taylor Funk – who finished with 36 points – was fouled on a three-point attempt, but during the timeout after the foul, Flyers head coach Anthony Grant was called for a technical foul, which sent Funk to the line for two more. The redshirt junior made all five and gave the Hawks a 87-69 lead.
The Hawks cruised the rest of the way for a 97-84 win, and the Flyers fell to 12-8 and 8-7 in A10 play.
The Flyers finish the regular season on the road Monday at St. Bonaventure (11-3, 9-3 A10).
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