Still, the Flyers are 20-6 and 10-4 in the Atlantic 10. A 3-1 mark in the last four regular-season games should get them to the NCAA tournament. A 2-2 mark and then two wins at the A-10 tournament would likely do the same.
What they did by losing to Duquesne is lower their margin for error.
“Judge us on how we finish the season,” Dayton coach Archie Miller said. “We’ve got to get back. We’ve got to get off our feet. We have to prepare and be ready to go on Wednesday. We’ll see where we’re at from there.”
Star of the game: Junior forward Dyshawn Pierre scored a career-high 27 points. He made 11 of 17 shots from the field, 3 of 4 3-pointers and 2 of 3 free throws.
Pierre also had 12 rebounds. It’s his sixth double-double of the season and third in a row. He has scored 20 or more points three times this season.
Stat of the game: Kyle Davis and Darrell Davis combined to make 2 of 14 shots from the field and 2 of 11 3-pointers.
The Flyers shot 33 3-pointers and 30 2-point shots.
Duquesne shot 17 3-pointers, making six, and 42 2-pointers.
Turning point: Scoochie Smith hit two free throws to give Dayton a 44-43 lead at the 19:06 mark of the second half. L.G. Gill put Duquesne back on top with a dunk on its next possession, and then Derrick Colter hit a 3-pointer.
The Dukes led 48-44. The Flyers never led again.
Foul trouble: Kendall Pollard fouled out in the final minutes and played 26 minutes. He scored 10 points two days after scoring 22 in a win over St. Joseph's.
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