DAYTON – The University of Dayton men's basketball team defeated George Washington 77-70 Friday night behind a season-high 26 points behind senior Dyshawn Pierre.  The Flyers are now 14-3 on the season and 4-1 in Atlantic 10 action while George Washington falls to 14-4 overall and 3-2 in league play. 

GAME BREAKDOWN

• George Washington held UD scoreless for the first three minutes of play. However, Flyer senior, Dyshawn Pierre had enough. The 6'6" forward scored Dayton's first eight points including two 3-pointers.
  • Neither team could shake each other in the first half. There were seven lead changes with Dayton leading the half for 8:16, and George Washington leading for 9:20.
  • The first half ended with Dayton in the lead, 35-34. Pierre ended the first half just as he started it, sinking a three-pointer at the buzzer.
  • The second period was back and forth between the two Atlantic-10 powerhouses with 19 total lead changes. They remained within four points of each other until Dayton took the lead for good on a Kyle Davis fast break layup with 6:32 to go, followed by a Dyshawn Pierre three-pointer at the 4:02 mark to make it 66-61. 
  • UD would keep it a two-possession game until George Washington cut it to three three times in the final 1:49.
  • The Flyers would have an answer all three times.  Steve McElvene hit a pair of free throws with 1:37 to go.  Charles Cooke would come through with an old-fashioned three-point-play with 46 seconds left and Dyshawn Pierre hit two freebies with 19 seconds in the game.
  • Scoochie Smith iced the game with a pair of free throws with nine ticks left on the clock.

 
KEY STATS

• Dyshawn Pierre led UD with his season high of 26 points, including five threes. He also had five rebounds and two assists.  Pierre shot 7-11 FG, 5-9 from 3-pt. and 7-7 FT.
  • The 26 points were one off his career high.
  • Charles Cooke added 15 points, three rebounds, two blocks and two steals.
  • Off the bench, Steve McElvene was also in double-digit scoring with 12 points in 26 minutes.  He also had six rebounds and two blocks.
  • Scoochie Smith had nine points, seven assists and four steals.
  • UD shot 26-61 (42.6 percent) from the field with only six turnovers while forcing 15 turnovers for the Colonials. 
  • The Flyers were 16 of 17 from the line (94.1%), including 15 of 16 in the second half.
  • UD finished the game on a 20-9 run over the last eight minutes.
  • Dayton has now won its last 16 Atlantic 10 home games, and 32 of its last 33 home games overall.
  • The Flyers have won the last seven games played at the Arena against GW.

 
UP NEXT
• Dayton will travel to New York to play St. Bonaventure on Tuesday, January 19 at 7 p.m. ET at Reilly Center. 
• After playing at Fordham on Jan. 24, the Flyers are back home against Saint Louis on Jan. 27..