Toppin leads No. 4 Dayton to A-10 title
Obi Toppin demonstrated his assortment of dunks while scoring 23 points with near-perfect shooting, and No. 4 Dayton clinched the Atlantic 10 title Friday night, beating Davidson 82-67 for its 18th straight victory.
The Flyers (27-2, 16-0) showed off their offensive versatility while claiming their first regular season title in three years.
Toppin led the way, providing a pair of fast-break dunks in the second half that were exclamation points on Dayton’s sensational season. He went 10 of 11 from the field and had 12 rebounds.
Five Flyers finished in double figures as Dayton shot 72.3% from the field, its best mark since it made 77.5% against Southern on March 1, 1986. Guard Ibi Watson came off the bench and scored 13 points, taking a bigger load in the offense with Jalen Crutcher in foul trouble. Crutcher finished with 14 points.
Kellan Grady had 23 points for Davidson (15-13, 9-7).
Toppin was the catalyst. He had a dunk, a long 3 from the top of the key, and a floater in the lane that gave Dayton a 2113 lead.
The Flyers’ guards then took control. Rodney Chatman had a layup and a 3-pointer, Watson scored on three consecutive drives to the basket, and Toppin hit another 3 for a 40-21 lead— , the Flyers’ biggest of the half.
Dayton came into the game leading the nation in field goal percentage at 52%. The Flyers shot 69% in the first half, with most of their points coming off drives to the basket.
Women
OREGON TO HONOR IONESCU IN REGULARSEASON HOME FINALE >> One of the Bay Area’s best to ever play college hoops is getting her day in the sun. Oregon star Sabrina Ionescu will be one of the Ducks’ Senior Day honorees Sunday when she plays her final true home game in Eugene against Washington.
Ionescu, a Miramonte High graduate, made history Monday night in the Ducks’ win over No. 4 Stanford. She became the first NCAA basketball player to rack up 2,000 points, 1,000 rebound and 1,000 assists in a career.
GOODMAN, JONES LEAD OREGON STATE PAST WASHINGTON >> Aleah Goodman came off the bench to score 22 points, Taylor Jones scored 21 with eight rebounds, and No. 17 Oregon State dominated the fourth quarter at home to turn back Washington 75-61.
Oregon State (21-8, 9-8 Pac-12 Conference) led 40-38 at halftime and 55-51 after three quarters before outscoring the Huskies (13-15, 5-12) 20-10 in the final period. NO. 23 PRINCETON 81, BROWN 39 >> Bella Alarie had 18 points, six rebounds and four blocks, and Princeton beat Brown for its 19th straight victory.
Princeton (23-1, 11-0) clinched a share of the Ivy League title with the win and held it outright after Pennsylvania lost to Yale.