DAYTON – The University of Dayton men's basketball team fell to George Mason at UD Arena on Wednesday evening, 67-63. The Flyers move to 12-7 (4-2 A-10) on the season, while George Mason improves to 12-8 (6-1 A-10).
 
Josh Cunningham led all scorers with 15 points. Obi Toppin added in 11 points on 5-5 from the field and Ryan Mikesell had 10 (4-5 FG).  Trey Landers led Dayton with eight rebounds. Jalen Crutcher was able to score eight points and added five rebounds and assists apiece.
 
First Half: Dayton 33, George Mason 31

• Ryan Mikesell and Josh Cunningham scored the first 16 points of the game for Dayton on a combined 7-of-7 from the floor, as the Flyers took a 16-10 lead to start the game at the 14:18 mark.
• A 9-2 George Mason scoring run gave the Patriots their first lead of the game at 19-18 with just over 10 minutes to play in the opening half.
• The Patriots scored the next five points to extend the run to 14-2 and take a 24-18 lead.
• After trading baskets, the George Mason lead stood at 26-20, but Dwayne Cohill knocked down two 3-pointers in a row to tie the game back up at 26 apiece. Cohill was 3-for-18 (17%) from deep entering the contest and had never made more than one in a game.
• George Mason went on a stretch where the missed 10 straight field goals, allowing Dayton to go on a 7-0 run to take a 33-28 lead, but a 3-pointer from Ian Boyd with 1:39 to play closed out scoring for the half, giving the Flyers a two-point lead at the break.

Final: George Mason 67, Dayton 63

• Dayton scored the first four points of the half before George Mason answered with a 7-0 run.
• GMU continued to hit eight of their first 11 shots in the half to take a 53-49 lead.
• Jordan Davis knocked down his first shot of the game on a deep three to tie up the game 55-55 with 6:46 left in regulation.
• George Mason and Dayton hit traded three-pointers before Cunningham scored to give the Flyers the lead back, 60-58.
• Greg Calixte made a pair of free throws to tie the game back up at 60-all, but Jordan Davis answered with another 3-pointer to put the Flyers back in front, 63-60, with 2:58 to play.
• The Patriots got baskets on back-to-back possessions, including Ian Boyd's put-back at the 1:32 mark to put the visitors ahead by a 64-63 margin, for the final lead change of the game.
• Trailing 65-63 with 10 seconds to play, Jalen Crutcher got a clean look at a 3-pointer to give Dayton back the lead, but the shot rattled off the rim and George Mason grabbed the rebound with 4.5 seconds to go.
• Jarred Rueter made both free throws for the Patriots to make it a two-possession game and seal the win.
• GMU held UD scoreless for the last 2:58 following Davis's 3-pointer.

By The Numbers

• The Flyers struggled from the line shooting 56%, while the Patriots shot 79%.
• Dayton recorded an assist on 19 of 25 (76%) made shots, Crutcher led the team with five.
• Obi Toppin shot a perfect 5-5 from the field.
• George Mason was able to force 14 turnovers, compared to only giving up eight.
• There were 13 lead changes during the game.
• Both teams struggled from behind the arc shooting 30%.

Up Next

• Dayton will travel to New York for a matchup with Fordham on Saturday, Jan. 26th at 2 p.m. ET.
• The Flyers will return home Tuesday, Jan. 29th to play Saint Joseph's at 8 p.m. ET.