Where: UD Arena
TV/Radio: Spectrum News 1; 1290 and 95.7 WHIO
Ticket info: The first two games sold out, but as of Monday morning, there were tickets left for this game.
Probable Dayton starters
Obi Toppin, 6-9, R-So., F, 25.0
Ryan Mikesell, 6-7, R-Sr., F, 13.0
Jalen Crutcher, 6-1, Jr., G, 13.0
Rodney Chatman, 6-1, R-Jr., G, 13.0
Trey Landers, 6-5, Sr., G, 8.5
Probable Omaha starters
JT Gibson, 6-3, Sr., G, 15.8
Ayo Akinwole, 6-0, Jr., G, 12.3
Zach Thornhill, 6-4, So., G, 9.5
Wanjang Tut, 6-8, So., F, 7.0
Matt Pile, 6-8, Jr., F, 12.3
Last game: Dayton beat Charleston Southern 90-61 on Saturday. Omaha lost 80-65 at Colorado State on Wednesday.
Series history : This is the first meeting. Dayton is 3-2 against members of the Summit League with losses to Western Illinois in 1993 and 1994.
Coaches: Anthony Grant is 37-29 in his third season at Dayton. Derrin Hansen is 208-190 in 14 seasons at Omaha.
About Dayton: Dayton has an 89 percent chance of winning the game, according to KenPom.com, which predicts a 79-65 score. … Ibi Watson leads the reserves with 5.5 points per game. Chase Johnson, who started the first game, averages 3.0 points per game. … Toppin leads the team with 11.5 rebounds per game. … Dayton has made 28 of 39 free throws (71.8 percent). … Walk-ons Jered Becker and Sean Loughran saw action for the first time Saturday, entering the game in the final seconds. Walk-on Christian Wilson hit a 3-pointer in the final minutes, and walk-on Camron Greer made 2 of 2 free throws.
About Nebraska Omaha: Omaha moved from NCAA Division II to Division I in the 2011-12 season. Its best season was last season when it finished 21-11 and 13-3 in the Summit League, finishing one game behind South Dakota State. Omaha was picked fourth in the Summit League preseason poll. … Akinwole averages 6.0 assists per game. … Marlon Ruffin, a 6-5 sophomore guard/forward, led the team with 19 points against Colorado State. Omaha trailed 54-48 with 8:40 to play. Colorado State put the game away with a 10-0 run at that point. … Omaha travels from Dayton to Pullman, Wash., for a game against Washington State on Thursday.
Looking ahead: Dayton leaves Friday for Maui and plays Georgia at 2:30 p.m. Monday in the Maui Invitational.
About the Author
