Cunningham, Westerfield put finishing touches on dominant Senior Night performance by Dayton

Flyers improve to 20-10 with one game left in regular season

Credit: DaytonDailyNews

Seniors Josh Cunningham and Jack Westerfield each made their final shots at UD Arena, hitting 3-pointers in the final minutes to cap a 70-39 rout of La Salle on Senior Night on Wednesday.

Cunningham, who gave one of his shoes to a young fan as he left the court for the final time, scored 16 of his 18 points in the second half to lead the Flyers in scoring. Westerfield earned his first career start and missed two shots in the opening minute but made a 3-pointer on Dayton’s last possession to bring the eighth sold-out crowd of the season to its feet.

» SENIOR NIGHT FEATURES: Josh CunninghamJack WesterfieldPhotos of seniors

Dayton (20-10, 12-4) increased its chances of earning a top-four seed in the Atlantic 10 tournament and might have clinched it, depending on other results around the conference, with one game to play.

Dayton shot 49 percent and held La Salle to 28 percent shooting. The Flyers broke open the game in the last 12 minutes.

Obi Toppin scored 13 points. Ryan Mikesell added 12. Dayton has won 14 straight games at UD Arena against La Salle.

Credit: DaytonDailyNews

Credit: DaytonDailyNews

HALFTIME RECAP

The Dayton Flyers overcame an early 10-3 deficit and held La Salle to three points in the last six minutes of the first half to build a 25-18 halftime lead Wednesday on Senior Night at UD Arena.

After honoring seniors Josh Cunningham and Jack Westerfield in a pregame ceremony, Dayton got off to a slow start, scoring one field goal in the first five minutes.

Dayton trailed 10-3 after seven minutes but started an 8-0 run with the first of three first-half dunks by Obi Toppin, who led all scorers with nine points on 4-of-7 shooting.

The Flyers had a 17-15 lead with six minutes to play and ended the half on an 8-3 run.

Dayton shot 32.1 percent from the field and made 1 of 8 3-pointers. La Salle shot 28.6 percent and made 2 of 12 3-pointers. Isiah Deas led the Explorers with six points.

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