Dayton Flyers

Chris Johnson had his fifth double-double of the season.

Box Score /// Photo Gallery
DAYTON, Ohio - The University of Dayton men’s basketball team cruised to a 76-43 win on Saturday night in front of a sold-out UD Arena to improve to 18-10 overall and 8-6 in Atlantic 10 play.

Senior Chris Johnson led the Flyers with 20 points while corralling 11 rebounds. It was Johnson’s fifth double-double of the season, all coming in Atlantic 10 play. The Columbus native also scored UD’s first eight points of the game.

Four other Flyers (Kevin Dillard, Luke Fabrizius, Josh Parker, Devin Oliver) scored in double figures. Dillard had 14 points, Fabrizius 11 in 10 minutes off the bench, and Parker and Oliver 10 apiece.  UD is 7-0 this season when five Flyers score 10-plus points.

Dillard also had seven assists and just one turnover against a UMass defense that pressures its opponents into 17 turnovers a game.

Dayton’s suffocating defense held UMass to a season-low 43 points, while forcing 15 turnovers. UMass previous low-point total for a game was 53 coming back in November against 20th ranked Florida State. Massachusetts came into the game averaging 76.4 points per game, the best in the Atlantic 10 and 26th in the nation.

UD led for all but the opening 1:54. Dayton opened the game on a 17-6 run with Chris Johnson and Luke Fabrizius scoring all 17 points. UD went into the locker room with a 28-18 advantage. After UMass closed within 40-34 with 13:40 remaining, Dayton ended the game on a 36-9 run including holding Massachusetts scoreless over the final 5:19.

Overall, UD shot 24-of-57 (42.1%) from the field while holding UMass to a season-low 13-52 (25.0%).  The Flyers outrebounded Massachusetts 46-37 and had 17 fast break points compared to just six for the Minutemen. UD also held the advantage in bench points 25-18.

Massachusetts (19-9, 8-6 A-10) was led by Chaz Williams’ 11 points. The team’s leading scorer was coming off a 29-point, nine-assist night in Wednesday’s win over Xavier, but was just 2-of-12 shooting and had three assists.  Freshman Maxie Esho was the only other Minuteman in double figures with 10.

UD and UMass are tied for sixth in the A-10, one game back of the two teams tied for third in the conference, St. Bonaventure and Xavier.

Dayton resumes action Wednesday, February 29 when they travel to Virginia to take on the Richmond Spiders. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 ET and the game will be broadcast by CBS Sports Network Regional (WHIO-TV in the Dayton area).