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Flyers stay unbeaten heading to Maui after a big win at home

TJ Thompson ,

(Photo via Olivia Shirk)

TJ Thompson | Sports Editor

The University of Dayton Flyers defeated the New Mexico State Aggies handily 74-53 in their last game before heading to Hawaii for the Maui Invitational. It was Hawaiian night in the student section, and the Flyer faithful did not disappoint, dressing in Dayton-themed Hawaiian shirts provided by the Red Scare.  

The Flyers defense was the story of the first half as UD struggled to convert on the offensive end. Dayton shot just above 40% from the field and 4-11 from the free throw line, but held the Aggies to just 38% shooting from the field. After leading most of the first half New Mexico State went on a late run keeping the game tight at the half. 

The second half was a completely different story, with the Flyers continuing their defensive dominance but adding a dominant offensive showing. The offensive barrage was led by Nate Santos, who had 23 points while knocking down six threes, five of which fell in the second half. Zed Key continued his high-flying play style with a couple of thunderous slams electrifying UD Arena. 

The Flyers improved their shooting knocking down almost 52% from the field and nearly 54% from three in the second half. The Aggies shot 34% from the field and 22% from three in the second half. This combination led to a huge Flyers win. 

First Half 

  • Zed Key wins the tip
  • The first score came nearly two minutes into the game off a lay-in by NMSU sophomore Carl Cherenfant 
  • 17:47 Javon Bennett responds with a three off an assist from Malchi Smith
  • 14:50 Malachi Smith ends an almost three-minute scoring drought with a layup off an assist from Posh Alexander 
  • Amaël L’Etang finishes at the rim making the score, 7-7
  • Jacob Conner throws down a slam tying the game, 9-9
  • 12:57 Bennett fastbreak layup gives the Flyers a two point lead, 11-9
  • 10:55 A Posh Alexander tough finish moved the lead to four, 13-9
  • 9:45 Key put his defender in a blender in the post and finished it off with a dunk worthy of a poster
  • A Nate Santos three puts the Flyers on a 5-0 scoring run and extends the lead to seven, 18-11
  • 8:31 Nate Santos driving layup makes the score, 20-11
  • 6:24 Cheeks hit an off the dribble three as the shot clock expired, 23-14
  • L’Etang finished for two off an Alexander assist 
  • 4:10 L’Etang knocks down two free throws pushing lead to nine, 27-18
  • 2:17 Two back-to-back threes from the Aggies extend their run to 8-0 and cut the UD lead to one, 27-26 
  • 0:51 An off-ball foul sent Key to the line where he converted both free throws, 29-28

Second Half

  • 19:04 Dayton struck first out of the half with a layup from Santos, 31-28
  • 18:28 Santos knocked down one of two from the line extending lead to two, 32-30
  • 17:54 Cheeks put back his miss, giving the Flyers a four-point lead, 34-30
  • 17:20 Cheeks splashes a three off an assist from Smith 37-30
  • 16:34 Nate Santos knocks down a three of his own off an assist from Bennett extending the Flyer lead 40-33
  • 14:59 The three point barrage continued with a silky-smooth three ball from Alexander 43-35
  • 14:07 Key added to his high flying night with another poster slam off of an alley opp
  • 13:46 A Santos three sent UD Arena crazy, extending the Flyer run to 8-0 and the lead to 13, 48-35
  • 12:40 Santos knocked down his fourth three of the night giving the Flyers their largest lead of 16, 51-35
  • 10:54 Hamad Mousa got his first points of the night with a slam off an assist from L’Etang, 53-40
  • 9:53 Santos stayed hot with another make from beyond the arc off an assist from Bennett, 56-41
  • 9:20 L’Etang converted at the rim again off an assist from Smith, 58-41
  • 8:23 Bennett headed to the line for the first time knocking down both from the stripe, 60-41
  • 7:54 L’Etang finishes a tough and one off an assist from Smith pushing the Flyer lead to 21, 63-41
  • 6:30 Key found himself above the rim again off an aley oop assist from Santos, 65-41
  • 6:09 Smith followed up a Cheeks missed layup with one of his own, 67-41
  • 4:34 Key added two more with a tough lay in, 69-43
  • 3:33 Santos connects on his sixth three of the night off an assist from key, 72-43
  • 1:35 Will Maxwell puts in two from the stripe, 74-47
  • 0:00 Flyers win 74-53

Numbers

  • 10 – The Flyers knocked down 10 threes, six coming from Nate Santos
  • 36 – The Flyers held the Aggies to 36% shooting from the field 
  • 11 – Amaël L’Etang came off the bench scoring 11 points for UD
  • 6 – Javon Bennett led the Flyers with six assists on the night 

Up Next

  • The University of Dayton Flyers head to Hawaii for the Maui Invitational. This is the Flyers first trip to the Maui Invitational since 2019. They face the North Carolina Tar Heels on Nov. 25.
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