Amzil applies finishing touch in upset win
LAKE BUENA VISTA — Dayton’s Mustapha Amzil scored just four points against No. 4 Kansas on Friday at the ESPN Events Invitational, but two of those points will be remembered all season.
With Kansas leading by one point and time running out, it appeared the Jayhawks’ David McCormack came up with the defensive play of the game with a huge blocked shot. The ball, however, caromed into the awaiting hands of Amzil, who drove into the paint and put up a floater that bounced straight up off the rim and into the net as time expired for a 74-73 victory.
“It’s hard to describe,” Amzil said. “It’s surreal. It’s a great feeling.
“I saw the clock when I was driving. I was about to kick it out, but there was just one second so I had to take the shot.”
The basket set off a celebration and college basketball’s biggest upset of the season so far advanced an upstart Dayton squad into Sunday’s championship game at 4 p.m. at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports against the winner of Friday night’s Iona-Belmont matchup.
Kansas appeared to take this game over early, leading by 15 midway through the first half, but Dayton was relentless and kept charging back. The Flyers cut the deficit to 10 by halftime and made their move after the intermission.
The Jayhawks did not play with the same energy, and it turned out to be Dayton’s key to success. Kansas led by 12 points two minutes into the second half, but that’s when the Flyers kicked it up a notch.
They tied the score by going on a 12-0 run and would eventually take a seven-point lead on the Jayhawks. The lead bounced back and forth until Kansas took a three-point lead after Ochai Agbaji scored on a layup and a dunk.
Dayton continued to fight, and out of a timeout with 15 seconds left the Flyers got two attempts at the basket, with Amzil’s game-winner sending Kansas (4-1) to its first loss.
“Kansas turned up the defensive effort at the end and we really struggled down the stretch, but we wanted to give ourselves a chance the last couple of plays,” Flyers coach Anthony Grant said. “We were able to get stops and we were able to convert on the other end.
“Obviously great presence of mind by Mustapha to know the clock and give us a chance. We’re grateful that the shot fell.”
Agbaji led Kansas with 21 points and Da’Ron Holmes had 16 for Dayton.
“Really fast-paced throughout the entire game,” Agbaji said. “They were pressing. We were attacking, so it was just up and down a lot.
“I was worn out, but I was just trying to keep going, keep pushing. But all in all it was just a poor performance by me and a lot of guys on our team, so I know we can all do better.”
Dayton (3-3) had lost consecutive games to Lipscomb, UMass Lowell and Austin Peay entering this tournament. The Flyers beat Miami 76-60 on Thursday.
“It was one of those things where the team effort that we had gave us the win,” Amzil said. “That’s why it was a close game at the end and I had the opportunity to take a shot.
“It feels great to level up our game from the beginning of the season and I think we’re going to do big things together.”
In the earlier game Friday, Miami defeated North Texas 69-63.
“Bottom line is we didn’t execute when we needed to, and then defensively there at the end we subbed and [Malachi Smith] was going to drive right and he beat us right,” Kansas coach Bill Self said. “David did come over in support and made a good block, and after that that was just good fortune. Happen to block it right to their guy and their guy made an unbelievable shot. Give him credit.
“[Christian Braun] defended it as well as you can defend it. It was a heck of a shot, and they deserve it.”