Flyers end blowout with statement from Mikesell

Dayton players on the bench celebrate after a 3-pointer against Southeast Missouri State on Friday, Nov. 13, 2015, at UD Arena in Dayton. David Jablonski/Staff

Credit: David Jablonski/Staff

Credit: David Jablonski/Staff

Dayton players on the bench celebrate after a 3-pointer against Southeast Missouri State on Friday, Nov. 13, 2015, at UD Arena in Dayton. David Jablonski/Staff

The University of Dayton men’s basketball team had no trouble turning aside Southeast Missouri State in its season opener.

Dayton built a 30-point cushion by halftime and rolled to an 84-53 win Friday at UD Arena behind a second-half surge from true freshman Ryan Mikesell, who scored 15 of his 21 points in the final 20 minutes.

The Flyers held the Redhawks scoreless for more than six minutes to start the game and were up 46-16 at halftime, Southeast opened the second half on a 5-0 run, but couldn't cut the deficit to under 21 points.

Mikesell was UD's leading scorer and one of two in double figures. He accounted for the most points in a Dayton freshman debut since Chris Wright had 22 in a 2007 game against East Tennessee State. Darrell Davis finished with 15 points, with 12 in the first half. Kendall Pollard eight points and 10 rebounds

Scoochie Smith got the Flyers on the board with a layup with 17:17 left in the half and accounted for the game’s first six points.

Davis gave the Flyers an 11-0 lead with 14:07 left in the half. The Redhawks finally scored on Marcus Wallace’s free throw with 13:51 left on the clock before the break and eventually managed to string together six straight points after that, but in the final 12 minutes of the half, Dayton outscored Southeast 31-9.

Dayton shot 48.3 percent in the first half and was even better the second period, finishing 27-of-52 from the floor for a 51.9 shooting percentage. The Redhawks made just 7-of-27 in the first half (25.9 percent)  and were 20-of-64 for the game (31.3 percent). Wallace led Southeast with 12 points.

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