Where: Talking Stick Resort Arena, Phoenix, Ariz.
What: Air Force Reserve Jerry Colangelo Classic
TV/Radio: ESPNU; 1290 and 95.7 WHIO
» A-10 UPDATE: Dayton, VCU look like favorites
Probable Dayton starters
Obi Toppin, 6-9, R-So., F, 22.1
Jalen Crutcher, 6-1, Jr., G, 11.9
Ryan Mikesell, 6-7, R-Sr., F, 11.6
Trey Landers, 6-5, Sr., G, 9.9
Rodney Chatman, 6-1, R-Jr., G, 9.6
Probable Saint Mary’s starters
Jordan Ford, 6-1, Sr., G, 20.2
Malik Fitts, 6-8, R.-Jr., F, 13.8
Tanner Krebs, 6-6, R-Sr., G, 12.9
Matthias Tass, 6-10, So., F/C, 7.6
Tommy Kuhse, 6-2, R-Jr., G, 5.0
» OFFENSE THRIVING: Dayton ranks among nation’s highest-scoring teams
Last game: Dayton beat Houston Baptist 99-68 on Tuesday at UD Arena. Saint Mary's beat Northern Illinois 61-49 on Thursday.
Series history: Saint Mary's leads 2-1. Dayton won the first matchup 69-50 in 1957 in Dayton. Saint Mary's beat the Flyers 61-57 on Nov. 19, 2016, at UD Arena and 69-54 on Dec. 19, 2017, in Moraga, Calif.
Coaches: Anthony Grant is 41-30 in his third season at Dayton. … Randy Bennett is 422-175 in 19 seasons at Saint Mary's.
About Dayton: Dayton has a 58 percent chance of winning this game, according to KenPom.com, which predicts a 70-67 score. … Dayton and Saint Mary's have one common opponent. Dayton beat Omaha 93-68 on Nov. 19. Saint Mary's beat Omaha 75-66 on Dec. 1. … Toppin and Saint Mary's Ford were two of the 46 players named this week to the watch list for the Oscar Robertston Trophy, one of the national player of the year awards. … Dayton is 24-7 against the West Coast Conference.
Credit: DaytonDailyNews
Credit: DaytonDailyNews
About Saint Mary's: The Gaels have four players from Australia, two from New Zealand and three from Europe (Estonia, Latvia and England). … Sophomore guard Logan Johnson played last season at Cincinnati, averaging 2.0 points per game. He received a waiver to play this season instead of sitting out a season as a transfer. He has appeared in seven games, averaging 2.0 points. … Ford scored 16 points against Dayton two years ago. Krebs had six points in that game. Trey Landers and Jalen Crutcher are the only Dayton players remaining who saw action in the game. They combined for nine points. … Saint Mary's ranks 42nd in the Pomeroy ratings. Dayton is 22nd.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Flyers beat Morehead State on School Day
Other games: The Dayton vs. Saint Mary's game is the middle game in a tripleheader. Tulane plays Saint Louis at 1:30 p.m. Grand Canyon plays Liberty at 6:30 p.m.
Looking ahead: Dayton plays its next two games at home, facing Drake (7-2) at 7 p.m. Dec. 14 and North Texas (3-5) at 7 p.m. Dec. 17.
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