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DAYTON  -- The University of Dayton Flyers opened their 107th season of basketball by defeating the Alabama A&M Bulldogs 76-52 behind a balanced scoring attack. The home team had six players score nine or more points.

Darrell Davis and Dyshawn Pierre led the way with 17 and 16 points respectively. Pierre was six of six from the floor.  Kyle Davis added 13.  

This was the tenth consecutive win for the Flyers in season openers. Coach Archie Miller improves his career record in season openers to 4-0.

Despite having a significant height disadvantage inside, the Flyers were able to out-rebound the Bulldogs 40-27. Starting center Devon Scott just missed having a double-double. Scott had nine points and a career-high 12 rebounds  Pierre was a rebound away from his own double-double.

Point guard Scoochie Smith also missed his own double-double.  He contributed nine points and a career-high eight assists in his first career start.  He also had three steals.

Alabama A&M controlled the opening tip, but the Bulldogs' first attempt narrowly missed going in to the hoop. Scott secured the rebound off of the miss and it led to a Dyshawn Pierre fast-break basket.

The Bulldogs tied the game up on a pair of free throws, but Scoochie Smith started a 10-0 run with consecutive three-point baskets to give Dayton a lead it would keep the rest of the game.

On the next possession, Pierre found Scott on a no-look pass to extend the lead to 10-2.

Pierre was then able to tip the ball in after a missed three-point attempt to extend the lead to 12-2.

Alabama A&M's Rakiya Battle finally stopped the run on a floater to cut the lead to eight.

After the first media timeout, the Flyers made a few substitutions that had an immediate impact. Freshman Darrell Davis entered the game and made a three point field goal to give him his first career points in a Flyer uniform and extend the lead to 17-4.

The Bulldogs gained offensive momentum nearly halfway through the first half to cut the Flyer lead to seven.

But the Bulldogs'momentum would be short-lived. Dayton stopped the Bulldog rally, as Smith found Scott under the basket for a two-hand slam.

A few minutes later, Jordan Sibert entered the scoring column with a three-point basket at the top of the key.

The Flyers would extend the lead to as much as 21 with just under three minutes remaining in the first half.

Darrell Davis continued to impress in the first half as he hit another three-point basket to give the Flyers a 38-19 lead.

Following Davis' three, Scott was able to put in a pair of free throws to extend the lead to 40-21.

The Bulldogs would then respond to cut the lead to 15, but Davis hit yet another three with 28 seconds left in the first half to give Dayton a 43-25 lead at the half.

Kyle Davis started the second half with a three-point play. He was fouled on his fast break layup, and made a free throw to bring the score to 46-25.

Both teams would go scoreless over the next four minutes until Battle converted two free throws to cut the Flyer lead to 46-27.

Scott would answer with a free throw on the other end of the court to bring the lead back up to 20.

Battle created an opportunity in the lane to score a layup, but the Flyers responded with a pair of Kyle Davis free throws.

Moments later, Smith converted a three from the top of the key to give Dayton a 52-31 lead at the media timeout with 11:16 to play.
After a pair of Alabama A&M baskets, Pierre scored the next seven points for the Flyers to bring the lead to 59-35. On the ensuing possession, Sibert made both of his free throw attempts to extend the lead to 61-35.

The Bulldogs tried to respond with a layup attempt, but Scott had a spectacular block to deny the chance.

Kyle Davis received the outlet pass, and was fouled for a one-and-one attempt. Davis converted both free throw attempts to give Dayton a 28-point advantage.

The home team began to put away the visitors in the final minutes. After a Scott dunk, Sibert converted a fast break layup.
A few possessions later, Scott threw a full-court pass to Sibert for a two-hand slam. The Bulldogs tried to rally at the end, but Dayton would cruise the rest of the way to a 76-52 victory.

The Flyers and quite a few of their fans will escape the unseasonable cold next week when they travel to San Juan for the Puerto Rico Tip-Off.  Dayton's first-round matchup on Thursday, Nov. 20 will be against Texas A&M.  Game time will be 10:30 a.m. ET (11:30 a.m. San Juan time) and it will be televised on ESPNU.