Dayton Flyers win at Saint Joseph’s for first time in 20 years

The Dayton Flyers ended the Hagan Hex, winning at Saint Joseph’s for the first time in 20 years on Sunday.

No. 20 Dayton (13-2) pulled away in the final minutes for an 80-67 victory at Hagan Arena, where they had lost nine straight games and hadn’t won since 2000. Dayton completed a two-game sweep of La Salle and Saint Joseph’s in four days in Philadelphia. They are 2-0 in the Atlantic 10 Conference. This was Dayton’s 12th double-digit victory.

Trey Landers and Ryan Mikesell each scored 18 points. On a cold day of shooting by the team from 3-point range, Landers made 4 of 8 3-pointers.

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Dayton made 9 of 29 3-pointers but made up for it at the free-throw line, making 17 of 18.

Obi Toppin sat out most of the second half after picking up his fourth foul but put an exclamation mark on the victory with a dunk in the final two minutes.

Dayton trailed by seven early in the second half but made a quick 9-1 run to get back on top. Ibi Watson played a big part in the second-half rally. He scored 15 points. Toppin also scored 15. Jalen Crutcher had 10.

Happy Flyers. They are 13-2 for the first time since the 2014-15 season. That team won 27 games. pic.twitter.com/owh1oUzMIq
— David Jablonski (@DavidPJablonski) January 5, 2020

HALFTIME RECAP

The Hagan Hex was alive and well for Dayton in the first half.

Saint Joseph’s guard Ryan Daly hit a 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer to tie the game at 33-33 heading to halftime at Hagan Arena, where Dayton has lost nine in a row since its last victory in 2000. The Flyers failed to lead at the half for the first time this season.

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Dayton shot 17.6 percent from 3-point range (3 of 17), and that was after Ryan Mikesell hit two 3-pointers in the first four minutes. Mikesell scored 12 points to lead Dayton. Obi Toppin added nine points.

Dayton led 22-14 with 9:45 to play but didn’t score again until the 3:14 mark. The Hawks took the lead with 12-0 run.

Dayton regained the lead in the final minutes of the half and led 33-30 after a dunk by Trey Landers on its last possession of the half. Daly then answered with the tying 3-pointer.