PHILADELPHIA – Charles Cooke scored 21 points, but the No. 25 Dayton Flyers suffered a 61-57 loss to the La Salle Explorers.

Dayton dropped to 12-3 overall and 2-1 in the Atlantic 10. La Salle improved to 5-8 overall, 1-2 in the won for the first time since Nov. 28.

GAME BREAKDOWN

• Dayton trailed 28-27 at halftime despite holding the Explorers without a field goal in the final 4:24.
• The Flyers led by nine points at the 13:53 mark, but La Salle roared back.
• In the second half, John Crosby got a 3-point play with 11:59 to go to give Dayton the lead once again 35-54.
• With UD ahead 47-42, La Salle then went on a 9-0 run to regain the advantage at 49-47.
• The Explorers took their largest lead, 57-52, after connecting on a pair of free throws with 48 seconds to go.
• The Flyers crawled back and cut the deficit to one after a Cooke three with seven seconds to go. However, La Salle made all four free throw attempts down the stretch to hang on for the win.

KEY STATS

• Charles Cooke scored in double figures for the sixth consecutive game. He's reached the 20 point mark in three of those contests.
• Steve McElvene tied the freshman record for blocks in a season with 33. He finished with six rebounds and four blocks in the game.
• Dyshawn Pierre added 12 points in his second start replacing the injured Kendall Pollard.
• La Salle shot 44 percent from the floor and forced 14 Flyer turnovers.
• UD shot 17 of 55 (31 percent) from the field.

UP NEXT

• Dayton returns home to begin a two-game homestand starting on Tuesday, Jan. 12 hosting the Davidson Wildcats at 8 p.m. ET.