ORLANDO – Behind a career-high 19-point, eight-rebound effort from Scoochie Smith, the Dayton Flyers held on with a 73-70 victory over the Monmouth Hawks.

The victory puts Dayton in the AdvoCare Invitational championship game against the Xavier Musketeers on Sunday, Nov. 29. Tip is at 4:30 p.m. ET.

Charles Cooke was just shy of a double-double with 15 points and nine rebounds, while Kendall Pollard and Kyle Davis each scored 12 points.

GAME BREAKDOWN

• UD had a 16-point lead midway through the second half, but Monmouth went on a 25-7 run and eventually cut the Flyer advantage to 68-67 with less than two minutes to play.
• With 1:31 left in regulation, Smith sank a three to put the Flyers ahead, 71-67. Then Pollard added a field goal to give Dayton a six-point edge.
• Monmouth eventually cut the deficit back to three, but missed a game-tying three with two seconds remaining to tie.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Dayton is 5-0 for the first time since the 2013-14 season.
• The Flyers are also 5-0 all-time at the AdvoCare Invitational. UD won the title in 2011.
• Cooke continues to be a productive weapon on offense. He scored in double figures for the fourth consecutive game.

KEY STATS

• UD held a 42-39 edge on the glass.
• Monmouth shot 9-of-19 from three-point range, while Dayton was just 4-of-18.

UP NEXT

• Dayton will play in the AdvoCare Invitational championship game against the Xavier Musketeers on Sunday, Nov. 29 at 4:30 p.m. ET.
• The Dayton-Xavier series is the most games against any opponent for both schools.
• Dayton leads the all-time series with Xavier, 85-75.