Flyers’ loss was one of their worst at UD Arena
Rhode Island’s 88 most points in years by UD Arena visitor.
Rhode Island’s 88 points were the most by a visiting team against UD in a non-overtime game at the arena since 1999.
More often than not, DAYTON — Dayton Flyers coach Anthony Grant has blamed a lack of focus, energy and effort for defeats. That wasn’t the case Saturday after an 88-74 loss to Rhode Island at UD Arena.
“I thou ght our guys com
peted,” Grant said, but “Rhode Island was the better team today.”
Grant’s comments sounded much like the quotes of opposing coaches who lost to Day- ton’s veteran group a season ago. Rhode Island coach Dan Hurley lost twice to Dayton last season and watched the Flyers capture their first outright Atlantic 10 Conference title.
Now Hurley’s team (15-3 overall) leads the conference at 7-0. With 11 games remaining, Rhode Island is a big favorite to win the A-10 regular-season title for the first time since the 1980-81 season, when the conference was called the Eastern Athletic Association (or the Eastern 8).
Rhode Island won its 10th straight game Saturday, beating the Flyers at UD Arena for the second time in three seasons. The Rams also scored more points at UD Arena than any Dayton opponent since Jan. 5, 2005, when Duquesne beat Dayton 94-93 in double overtime. This was the most points
Dayton has allowed in a non-overtime game at UD Arena since an 88-74 loss to La Salle on Feb. 27, 1999.
“They’re undefeated in the league,” Grant said of Rhode Island. “They’re led by a bunch of seniors that have been through a lot over the course of their careers and won a lot. They showed that. They played with poise. They kept the pressure on us. We were able to battle and fight, but give them credit.”
Dayton (9-10, 3-4) will try to avoid the first three- game losing streak of the season when it plays second-place Davidson (107, 5-1) at 7 p.m. Tuesday at UD Arena.
The Flyers haven’t been under .500 this late in the season since 2006, when they were 9-10 through 19 games. That team finished 14-17, Dayton’s last losing season. In the past 11 seasons, the Flyers have not finished fewer than three games over .500, and have won at least 20 games nine times.
To finish with a winning record this season, Dayton will have to overcome the odds. It’s favored to win five of its last 11 games, according to KenPom.com.
“Basketball is a game of habits,” Grant said, “and those habits are built through practice and consistency. That’s an area for us with our youth we’ve got to get better at.”