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With a win, Dayton will make it seven consecutive seasons with 10 or more non-conference victories. |
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DAYTON ZIPS OUT WEST TO FACE USC ON SUNDAY NIGHT
The University of Dayton Flyers close out the 2012 calendar on the road against the University of Southern California Trojans on Sunday at 7 p.m. ET. The game will be televised on the PAC 12 Network, carried by WHIO Radio and available with live stats and streaming audio at www.DaytonFlyers.com.
Dayton, 9-3 overall, has won eight of its last 10 with the two losses by one point apiece. Dayton is led by one of the best backcourt tandems in the Atlantic 10. Kevin Dillard, a Cousy Award Watch List selection, leads Dayton in scoring (15.3), assists (4.6), three-pointers made (21), free throws made (50) and steals (15). Vee Sanford is second on the Flyers averaging 12.7 points per game and has scored in double figures in five of his last six. Matt Derenbecker has caught fire hitting 13-of-21 (.619) from three-point range in his last four games.
ABOUT SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
The Southern Cal Trojans enter the game 4-8 overall and has lost seven of their last eight. Scoring has been an issue for USC averaging 62.6 points per game. The Trojans have one of the top point guards in the PAC 12 conference, former Fordham point guard Jio Fontan. Fontan averages 8.4 points and 5.3 assists per game. Eric Wise leads the scoring averaging 10.8 points, while J.T. Terrell is close with 10.1 points per game. Opponents are shooting .376 from three-point range this season.
SERIES STUFF
This is the first meeting between the two programs.
SHOOT TO THRILL
The biggest difference between Dayton’s wins and losses this season have come from field goal shooting. In the victories, UD is shooting .501 from the field and .409 from beyond the arc. When Dayton loses, those numbers plummet to .390 from the floor and .255 from 3-point range.
CONQUERING GOLIATH
The Flyers have been powerful against the power conferences. Dayton is 19-8 in the last six years against BCS programs. Dayton’s 19 victories have come against Ole Miss (thrice), Alabama and Auburn (twice), Boston College, North Carolina, Minnesota, Illinois, Louisville, West Virginia, Georgia Tech, Marquette, Cincinnati, Seton Hall, Wake Forest and Pittsburgh.
BCS BUSTERS
UD has won its last seven versus the SEC and the last four against the ACC. The Flyers have won 10 of the last 13 overall and five of the last eight games against BIG EAST opponents. UD is 3-1 this season with wins over Alabama, Boston College and Auburn. The only loss was to the 2012 Charleston Classic champion, Colorado.
SEASON’S GREETINGS
The month of December has been kind to the Flyers in recent years. Dayton has had a winning record in the month of December in the last 10 seasons, which includes the 2012-13 season. Dayton is 57-17 (.770) during the previous 10 campaigns. UD has won 36 of its last 42 dating back to the 2007-08 campaign.
OTHER NOTES
• With a win, Dayton will make it seven consecutive seasons with 10 or more non-conference victories.
• The Flyers have led in the second half in every game this season.
• Dayton is 11-0 the last two years shooting 40 percent or better in a game from 3-point range.
• Dayton ranks second in field goal percentage (.470) and third in defensive rebounding (29.8), in the Atlantic 10 this season.
• Kevin Dillard, a First Team Pre-Season All-Atlantic 10 selection, leads Dayton in scoring (15.3), assists (4.6), three-pointers made (21), free throws made (50) and steals (15).
• The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame named Dillard to the national watch list for the 2013 Bob Cousy Collegiate Point Guard of the Year Award.
• Dillard is ninth in the A-10 in scoring and ranks fifth in assists. He has scored in double figures in all but one game this year and hit at least one 3-point shot in 10 straight contests.
• In his Flyer career versus power conference opponents, Dillard averages 16.3 points and is shooting 50-of-103 (.485) from the field.
• Josh Benson is producing at a similar clip as he did last season before his torn ACL. In 2012-13, Benson is averaging 11.0 points, 5.1 rebounds and shooting .525 from the floor.
• Vee Sanford leads the Flyers with an .900 FT percentage and ranks second in the A-10.
• Sanford scored a season-high 23 points versus Murray State. He has scored in double figures in five of his last six contests.
• Devin Oliver ranks second in the Atlantic 10 and leads the Flyers in overall rebounding (8.6 rpg). In his last four games, Oliver is averaging 9.5 points and 10.0 rebounds.
• Oliver has scored in double figures in the seven of the last 10 games.
• Jalen Robinson has been a force off the bench, averaging 6.9 points while shooting .604 (29-48) from the field. The Flyers are 8-1 when Robinson comes off the bench.
• Matt Derenbecker is 13-of-21 (.619) from three-point range over the last four games.
• After averaging 3.0 points in his first eight contests, Derenbecker is scoring 10.3 points per game in the last three.
