Dayton Flyers extend winning streak to 14 games by beating UMass

The No. 6 Dayton Flyers hung on to beat Massachusetts 71-63 on Saturday at the Mullins Center, extending their winning streak to 14 games.

It’s the longest winning streak for the program since it won 14 straight from the 1961-62 season into the 1962-63 season. It’s the longest winning streak in one season since 1957-58.

» SEASON IN REVIEW: Game-by-game recap in photos | Top 50 photos

Dayton (23-2, 12-0) built a 16-point lead in the second half, thanks in part to Jalen Crutcher scoring 11 points in a three-minute span, and then held on as UMass rallied late. The Flyers clinched the victory at the free-throw line in the final minute.

PHOTOS: Dayton Flyers vs. UMass

Dayton overcame 17 turnovers. It shot 52.9 percent from the field and made 7 of 13 3-pointers.

Obi Toppin led Dayton with 19 points. Crutcher scored 17. Toppin dunked three times, tying his own school record for dunks in a season (83).

Dayton remains atop the Atlantic 10 Conference. Rhode Island (19-6, 11-2) beat Saint Joseph’s 73-55 on Saturday to remain in second place. Every other team has at least three losses.

Credit: DaytonDailyNews

HALFTIME RECAP

Obi Toppin made a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the No. 6 Dayton Flyers a 31-26 halftime lead against Massachusetts on Saturday at the Mullins Center.

Dayton beat UMass 88-60 on Jan. 11 at UD Arena and led that game 48-22 at halftime.

Toppin scored 11 points on 4-of-8 shooting. He dunked twice, leaving him one dunk away from tying his own single-season record of 83.

Jordy Tshimanga had six points. Rodney Chatman added five. Tre Mitchell scored 11 for UMass.

Dayton trailed for the first 10 minutes. It faced a 15-10 deficit at the 12:55 mark when it began a 15-0 run. UMass didn’t score for more than nine minutes.

The Minutemen got back in the game with an 8-0 run, cutting Dayton’s lead to 25-23 with one minute to play. Chatman and Toppin made 3-pointers in the final minute.

Dayton shot 46.4 percent from the field and committed 10 turnovers. The Flyers did not attempt a 3-pointer until the 4:15 mark. Jhery Matos made the shot.

UMass shot 35.7 percent and had seven turnovers.