Flyers Fall in Charity Game Against Xavier

October 21, 2024October 22, 2024 TJ Thompson UD men's basketball

TJ Thompson | Sports Editor

The University of Dayton tipped off the 2024-2025 men’s basketball season with a loss at home to Xavier University 98-74 in a charity exhibition match Sunday.

The game was part of an ongoing initiative by the University of Dayton and CareSource, launched last year, aimed at raising awareness about mental health among young adults. The effort also seeks to raise money for charities that provide essential resources to those in need.

Three donations were made during the game to different mental health foundations. CareSource gifted $50K to Jay’s Light. Jay’s Light then gave a $5,000 grant to the G.E.M. Project. Finally, the University of Dayton Flyers gifted the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation with $50K.

GAME RECAP

First Half – Dayton 28, Xavier 46

The game was ready for tip-off after Dr. Willie Morris’s rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” on the saxophone. Followed by team introductions featuring all the players.
Graduate transfer Zed Key won the tip and scored his first points in a Dayton uniform, putting the Flyers up two early.
The next Flyer score would come from a putback by Malachi Smith in his first live-game action since the first game of last season, off an Enoch Cheeks miss.
Nate Santos got his first points of the season off of a back cut assisted by Malachi Smith, making the score 9-6.
A 1-2 trip to the free throw line for Malachi Smith made the score 9-7 at the first media timeout.
Senior transfer Posh Alexander, Junior transfer Jacob Conner, and 7’1” freshman Amaël L’Etang checked in for the first time.
Immediately L’Etang makes his first impact play as a Flyer with a huge block stifling a Xavier three-point attempt.
L’Etang followed up this defensive stand with a thunderous dunk, firing up the Flyer faithful, and tying the game at 11.
Freshman Hamad Mousa added to his stat sheet for the first time in his collegiate career with a fast break dunk off an assist from Bennett.
Redshirt freshman Jaiun Simon found himself open under the basket and converted a reverse layup off an asset from Alexander to bring the game to 18-17 Xavier.
At the 6:52 mark, Nate Santos knocked down the first Flyer three of the game cutting Xavier’s lead to 25-22.
UD ended the half on a four-minute scoring drought until a Mousa dunk off an assist from junior Isaac Jack at 0:26 left in the half.

Second Half – Dayton 74, Xavier 98

Xavier started where they left off with a three extending their lead to 21.
Dayton would answer with a three of their own from Cheeks off an assist from Bennett.
After another Musketeer three Bennett responded with his first three of the game.
Key got started early in the half with a putback off a missed three and a dunk off an assist from Santos.
L’Etang continued his impressive first game as a Flyer with a corner three off an assist from Alexander taking the game to 61-44.
Cheeks had a quick offensive burst when he converted two free throws, got a steal, and converted a layup to make the score 72-58 halfway through the half.
Jack finished the game for the Flyers with a slam dunk, converting his first bucket of the game off an assist from Simon.

BY THE NUMBERS

13 – Nate Santos led UD in scoring with 13 points.
9 – First year Flyers Zed Key and Amaël L’Etang each had nine points
46:21 – Xavier converted on 46% of their threes while Dayton only 21% from behind the arc
16 – The Flyers finished the game with 16 assists

UP NEXT

The University of Dayton Flyers will host Ashland on Oct. 26 in its second exhibition game.