Freshman Crutcher stands out in loss Wednesday
Guard made 7 or 10 3-pointers but says team took too many.
With such a PHILADELPHIA — young team, the Dayton Flyers see one player break out with a career game almost every night.
On Friday in a 106-79 victory against Virginia Commonwealth, it was Jordan Davis, who scored 21 points. Five days later, in an 81-65 loss to St. Joseph’s, it was Jalen Crutcher, the lone bright spot in Dayton’s ninth straight loss at Hagan Arena.
Crutcher made 7 of 10 3-pointers Wednesday, scoring 23 points in 33 minutes.
“I had open shots,” Crutcher said, “and I made them.”
This performance followed a near triple-double by Crutcher, who had 12 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds against VCU. He has scored in double figures four times in the past five games after doing so twice in the first 13.
However, Crutcher conceded the team took too many 3-pointers. Dayton made 13 of 38 (34.2 percent). It’s shooting 34.5 percent from long range this season.
“We were off this game, so we should have drove more and tried to get free throws,” Crutcher said. “Coach told us to keep attacking the rim. We had a lot of open shots. We just didn’t make them.”
Freshman missing: Center Jordan Pierce didn’t travel with the team for the second straight game. He was not at the game in Richmond because of a disciplinary issue.
This time, Pierce stayed home to focus on school work. Dayton coach Anthony Grant said, “He’s got to make sure he’s taking care of his academics.”
Another illness: Junior guard John Crosby didn’t play Wednesday. He was sick and didn’t travel with the team to Philadelphia.
It was the second straight game Dayton has played short-handed. Kostas Antetokounmpo missed the VCU game with an illness. Crosby has averaged 5.4 points, 2.4 assists and 2.0 rebounds in 16 games.
Next game: Dayton hosts Rhode Island (14-3, 6-0) at 1 p.m. Saturday. The Rams are the only Atlantic 10 team without a loss in conference play. They have road wins against George Washington and Saint Louis and victories at home against George Mason, La Salle, St. Bonaventure and Massachusetts.
Rhode Island beat UMass 73-51 on Wednesday for its ninth straight victory. Jared Terrell scored 24 points.
Around the A-10: With all but two teams having played one third of their A-10 games, there is a logjam in the middle with six teams, including Dayton and St. Joseph’s, tied for fourth place at 3-3.
The most surprising result Wednesday was VCU’s 67-52 loss at home to crosstown rival Richmond (5-13, 3-3). VCU (11-8, 3-3) has lost two games in a row. Contact this reporter at 937244-7400 or email David. Jablonski@coxinc.com.