DAYTON, Ohio -The University of Dayton men's basketball team defeated the Saginaw Valley State Cardinals 96-69 on Saturday afternoon at UD Arena in exhibition play.

Dayton scored the first eight points of the game, a run spurred by a dunk from redshirt freshman Steve McElvene on the Flyers opening possession. The Flyers did not relinquish the lead once all game.

The Flyers took advantage of Saginaw Valley State mistakes in the first half, scoring 20 points off of 11 turnover and also converting 14-20 free throws after 16 first half fouls by the Cardinals.

Dayton led 48-34 at the break and took momentum into the locker room after Ryan Mikesell made a corner 3-pointer off an assist from Scoochie Smith as the last seconds in the first half expired. The 14 point margin at halftime was as close as Saginaw Valley State would be for the remainder of the game.

Ten players put themselves in the scoring column for the Flyers in the game, including six newcomers to the rotation in 2015-16. Freshmen McElvene, Mikesell, Sam Miller, Xeyrius Williams and John Crosby, as well as junior Charles Cooke, who sat out last season after transferring from James Madison, all scored for Dayton.

McElvene was the leading scorer for Dayton with 15 points and also hauled in seven rebounds. Charles Cooke (13), Scoochie Smith (13), Kendall Pollard (10), Sam Miller (10) and Ryan Mikesell (10) each joined McElvene in double figures for the Flyers. Mikesell and Darrell Davis also chipped in a team-high five assists.

For the game, UD shot 51.5% (35-68) from the floor and outrebounded Saginaw Valley State 44-28.
The Flyers will open up regular season play next Friday, Nov. 13 at 7 p.m. against Southeast Missouri State at UD Arena.