The Minutemen (8-8, 1-2) won their first Atlantic 10 Conference game in the Matt McCall era, while Dayton’s Anthony Grant’s team is still searching for back-to-back wins in his first season. The Flyers fell to 7-8 and 1-2.
UMass trailed by as many as 11 points in the first half but pulled ahead early in the second half with a 7-1 run. Luwane Pipkins led UMass with 25 points. The team was playing with seven players because two starters were suspended before the game.
Dayton trailed 58-50 with 6:18 to play and got as close as two points three times in the final stretch.
Jalen Crutcher scored 14 points for Dayton. Josh Cunningham had 12.
FIRST-HALF RECAP
Massachusetts stayed close to the Dayton Flyers in the first half Saturday at UD Arena despite the pregame news that it had suspended two starters.
Dayton led by as many 11 points in the first half. The Flyers’ halftime lead was 32-27.
Dayton's star: Point guard Jalen Crutcher made 4 of 7 shots from the field and scored nine points. He also had four rebounds and two assists.
UMass star: Luwane Pipkins scored 11 points, but he shot 4 of 12 from the field.
Key stat: Dayton made 6 of 13 3-pointers. Jordan Davis made 2 of 2. Darrell Davis made 3 of 4.
Big run: The game was tied 11-11, and then Dayton went on an 8-0 run to take control.
Improved performance: Xeyrius Williams, who didn't score in the previous two games, had five points in the first half on 2-of-2 shooting.
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